What is
the A1c (hemoglobin A1c, Hb1c, HbA1c or HgA1c)
test, and what is its significance?
In the normal 120-day life span of
the red blood cell, glucose molecules join hemoglobin,
forming glycated hemoglobin. Once a hemoglobin molecule
is glycated, it remains that way. A buildup of glycated
hemoglobin within the red cell reflects the average
level of glucose to which the cell has been exposed
during its life cycle. We measure the amount of this
glycated hemoglobin with the A1c test.
Hemoglobin is found inside red blood
cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs
to all the cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all
proteins, links up with sugars such as glucose.
People with diabetes have too much
sugar in their bloodstream. This extra glucose enters
the red blood cells and links up (or glycates) with
molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose
in the blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated.
It is possible to measure the percentage of glycated
glucose in the blood. The result is an overview of
the average blood glucose control for the past few
months, and is the A1c number.
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