HbA1c Test

Introduction: HbA1c Test

HbA1c is a long-term test of diabetic blood sugars. It gives a percentage of blood "glycosylation" of the hemoglobin (red blood cells), which indicate how high blood sugars were over a period of time. The result is a percentage where the healthy person usually has a 6% or lower, and a diabtic will often have higher than 7%. Diabetics should aim their blood sugar control so as to get as close to normal HbA1c as possible. The HbA1c test also goes by several names such as Hemoglobin A1c, Glycosylated hemoglobin, Glycated hemoglobin, or informal names such as long-term blood sugar test, or three-month blood sugar test, etc.

HbA1c tests measure the blood sugars over a historical range of about 3-4 months (although research indicates that it may actually be only 1 month). The fructosamine test can be used as a quicker 2-week test which measures more recent blood sugar levels history.

Basic Information: HbA1c Test

Disease or Condition count: 0; see list of conditions below. These are the diseases or medical conditions in which the medical test 'HbA1c Test' may be involved.

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