The HbA1c test is an important blood test that gives a good implication of how well your diabetes is being controlled.
The HbA1c levels should be measured regularly by anyone who has diabetes and also if they are of risk of developing it.
High HbA1c level increases the risk of complication such as retinopathy (damage to the blood vessels supplying the retina) and kidney disease.
Limitations of HbA1c test includes;
- People with Anemia, as they may not have sufficient hemoglobin for the test to be accurate.
- Pregnancy/Uncommon form of hemoglobin can also return in inaccuracy HbA1c
- Having higher blood sugar levels
HbA1c occurs when hemoglobin, the oxygen- carrying protein in the blood cells, becomes bounded with glucose in the bloodstream. The bonding with glucose is called glycation.
Higher the persons blood glucose levels have been, the higher the number of red blood cells that will have become glycated, and therefore the higher HbA1c level they will have.
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