Test for glycated hemoglobin

Glycated hemoglobin is a specific combination of erythrocyte hemoglobin and glucose. The higher the blood sugar level, the more such complexes are formed. An increase in these indicators indicates an increased content of sugar (glucose) in the blood during the previous three months - the life span of erythrocytes, this is the most reliable evidence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders.

The level of glucose in the blood is constantly changing. It is affected by the time of day, the rate of metabolism, the time that has passed since the last meal, the level of carbohydrates in the diet, the presence of stress, the simultaneous use of medications, and other factors. It is difficult to focus only on blood sugar indicators now.

The level of glycated hemoglobin is an important indicator for determining whether a patient has diabetes or prediabetes.

We offer a biochemical blood test to determine the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (glycated hemoglobin, HbA1c) in the serum. Each patient with a suspicion of impaired carbohydrate metabolism or with an already established diagnosis of "diabetes mellitus" will receive the necessary amount of medical assistance. At your service is the experience of specialists, a comprehensive examination, and effective treatment.

Synonyms
Glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, glycohemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin.

Indications for analysis
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all persons who have reached the age of 45 carry out this analysis once a year for the early detection of diabetes. Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is also tested:

• with an already established diagnosis of "diabetes", control of the stability of the glucose level;
• to control the effectiveness of the diet and medical treatment of the disease;
• to clarify the diagnosis of patients who have a one-time or more increase in blood sugar;
• if the patient has signs of hyperglycemia: thirst, increased urine output, fatigue, slow wound healing, decreased immunity.

Description of the study
The analysis is carried out using ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, for which the patient's venous blood is taken.

Preparation
You can take a blood test for glycated hemoglobin at any time of the day, regardless of the last meal, as well as against the background of hypoglycemic therapy. To obtain the most reliable results, it is recommended to refrain from eating for 2-3 hours, and also not to smoke 30 minutes before the blood test.

Decoding the results
Units of measurement: % (percentage of blood hemoglobin irreversibly combined with glucose molecules).

Reference values
The norm is 4.27-6.07%.

Analytical result
The result of the analysis is evaluated depending on the exact level of the indicator:

1. a result of less than 6% indicates the absence of diabetes;
2. a result of 6.0-6.5% indicates the presence of a prediabetic state (increased risk of developing the disease, according to WHO criteria);
3. exceeding the level of 6.5% indicates the probable presence of diabetes in the patient.

Also, the indicator may increase with iron deficiency and after removal of the spleen. A low value may indicate frequent hypoglycemic states, hemolytic anemia, acute or chronic bleeding, or a previous blood transfusion.

Research on deviation from the norm
In case of questionable test results, as well as when the reference values are exceeded, it is recommended to additionally pass the following tests:

the level of glucose in the blood plasma;
glucose tolerance test;
fructosamine, etc.

Most likely, the patient will need a consultation with an endocrinologist.