Diabetes (HbA1C) Test

Buy Diabetes Test | What is HbA1C?

In the blood stream the red blood cells are made of a molecule, haemoglobin. The glucose in the blood sticks to this haemoglobin to make 'glycosylated haemoglobin' . This is 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 <36mmol/mol  (5.5%). In diabetes about 48mmol/mol  (6.5%) is good.

The HbA1C test is currently one of the best ways to check diabetes is under control; it is the blood test that gets sent to the laboratory, and it is done on the spot in some hospital clinics. Remember, the HbA1C is not the same as the glucose level. In practice GLUCOSE levels that average 6.5 before meals are equivalent to HbA1C 60mmol/mol (7%).