What is the HbA1c test for?

The article was professionally consulted by a doctor of Biochemistry - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital

Diabetes, including gestational diabetes, is becoming more and more common in the community. Long-term diabetes will lead to many dangerous complications for the body, especially in the heart, kidneys, eyes and nerves. Therefore, early diagnosis of diabetes is of particular significance in the prevention of complications. HbA1C test plays an important role in early diagnosis, monitoring treatment effectiveness and prognosis of diabetes.

The HbA1c test is a blood test used to check the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. People with diabetes or diseases that raise blood sugar have more glucose bound to hemoglobin.
The essence of the HbA1c test is to determine the percentage of glycosylated hemoglobin in total hemoglobin to assess blood glucose levels during the previous 2-4 month period

Indications to perform HbA1c test will depend on the type of diabetes, the patient's ability to control blood sugar, but it is recommended to conduct 2-4 times per year. When diabetes is first diagnosed, follow-up tests may be more frequent if the doctor finds that the patient's blood sugar control is not good. The HbA1c test can be used for diagnostic and screening purposes in routine physical examination or for suspected diabetes because the patient has signs of elevated blood glucose levels such as:
Thirst, frequent urination Fatigue fatigue, blurred vision Infections take a long time to heal

The results of the HbA1c test will be classified into the following levels:
Normal: less than 5.7% Pre-diabetes (risk of diabetes): 5.7-6.4% Diabetes: above 6.5% This is a result read for people with HbA1c testing for diagnostic purposes, for most adults who are not pregnant, or have type 2 diabetes, the goal is to aim for an HbA1c level of less than 7%
Some conditions can increase HbA1c levels but the results are still within the normal range such as: Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, polycystic ovary syndrome

4.1 HbA1c can be elevated in the following cases Increased blood glucose levels Newly diagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes patients Chronic kidney failure, anemia, iron deficiency or alcohol abuse Lead poisoning 4.2 HbA1c can decreased in the following cases Chronic anemia Short life of red blood cells in diseases such as: hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia After blood transfusion, after splenectomy or after taking large amounts of vitamin C and E Pregnant women Patients can rest assured that this is a test that requires no special preparation, does not have to stop eating before the test and can be done at any time of the day even after meals. In some cases, it is possible to stop taking antidiabetic drugs before the test, the test time takes about 1 hour.
The HbA1c test is one of the tests performed in the Cardiovascular and Diabetes Screening Package at Vinmec International General Hospital. To register for an examination at Vinmec International General Hospital, customers can contact Vinmec Health System nationwide or register online HERE.
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