Glycated hemoglobin HbA1c

Glycated hemoglobin HbA1c

Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) determination is performed primarily to monitor diabetes treatment Elevated HbA1c levels may indicate problems with controlling glucose levels, which can increase the risk of developing complications of diabetes.

Diabetes is characterized by persistently too high levels of glucose in the blood. Treatment involves making sure that the concentration of glucose in the blood, which helps to inhibit the further development of the disease.

Diabetes is characterized by high blood glucose levels

Unmanaged or poorly controlled diabetes can lead to serious complications, especially: nephropathy (kidney disease), retinopathy (damage to the vessels of the retina), neuropathy and diabetic foot syndrome, erectile dysfunction and diseases of the cardiovascular diseases (including heart attack, stroke).

For people with diabetes, determination of glucose levels in the blood should be performed several times a day, but the determination of HbA1c allows assessment of long-term glycemic control (up to 3 months before the measurement is performed).

Glycated hemoglobin test

Glycated hemoglobin glycated is formed by the combination of a molecule of Hemoglobin with glucose. Hemoglobin, formed in the red blood cell, transports oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body and contains a a small amount of glucose attached. Nevertheless, the red blood cell is permeable to glucose molecules, so when the concentration of glucose in the blood is higher (for example, in diabetic patients with poor glycemic control) this process intensifies.
The HbA1c test determines the average concentration of glucose combined with hemoglobin over the past 3 months (approximately 120 days determined by the lifespan of the red blood cell). With about half of HbA1c is formed up to a month before the test is performed.