A1C Diabetes Test

HBA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, A1C, or Hb1c)  is the test done to determine your long-term diabetes control by taking a blood sample from your arm.

HbA1c indicates your blood glucose levels for the previous two to three months.

The HbA1c blood test measures the amount of glucose that is being carried by the red blood cells in the body.

In the blood stream there are red blood cells, which are made of a molecule,haemoglobin. Glucose sticks to the haemoglobin to make a ‘glycosylated haemoglobin’ molecule, called haemoglobin A1C or HbA1C.

The more glucose in the blood, the more haemoglobin A1C or HbA1C will be present in the blood.

Red cells live for 8 -12 weeks before they are replaced. By measuring the HbA1C it can tell you how high your blood glucose has been on average over the last 8-12 weeks. A normal non-diabetic HbA1C is 3.5-5.5%. In diabetes about 6.5% is good.

If the last reading of HbA1c is above 7% you will need to achieve a lower level if possible, and the next reading should be sooner.

HbA1C is to be measured once in every 3-4 months if you are trying to improve and once in every 6 months if the values are very stable and under 7%.

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