The a1c test is sometimes called the hemoglobin a1c, hba1c, glycated hemoglobin, or glycohemoglobin test. hemoglobin is the part of a red blood cell that carries oxygen to the cells. glucose attaches to or binds with hemoglobin in your blood cells, and the a1c test is based on this attachment of glucose to hemoglobin.. Specifically, the a1c test measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar (glycated). the higher your a1c level, the poorer your blood sugar control and the higher your risk of diabetes complications..
The most common hemoglobin variants that can affect a1c test results are hemoglobin s, c, d, and e. 2 these variants can also cause hemoglobinopathies, a group of blood disorders and diseases that affect red blood cells. table 1 lists each variant, the racial and ethnic groups most likely to have the variant, and the blood disorders the variant can cause..
A1c is based on a person’s red blood cell turnover (the lifespan of a red blood cell) and the quantity of sugar attached to each cell. certain conditions, such as kidney disease, hemoglobin variants, certain types of anemia, and certain drugs and vitamins, impact red blood cell turnover, leading to misleading a1c values… Anything that affects red blood cell survival can affect the a1c levels, such as acute blood loss, mutations of various amino acid sequences, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or iron deficiency anemia. other conditions, like advanced liver or kidney disease, also can impact a1c measurements..
Anything that affects red blood cell survival can affect the a1c levels, such as acute blood loss, mutations of various amino acid sequences, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or iron deficiency anemia. other conditions, like advanced liver or kidney disease, also can impact a1c measurements.. Specifically, the a1c test measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar (glycated). the higher your a1c level, the poorer your blood sugar control and the higher your risk of diabetes complications..
