What does the Hemoglobin A1C result mean?
The hemoglobin A1C measures the amount of sugar that is attached to hemoglobin, a part of the red blood cells. The higher the blood sugar is at all times, the more sugar becomes attached to the hemoglobin and the higher the test results. The hemoglobin A1C is an average of all blood sugars, high and low. Since red blood cells only live a few months, the test is an indirect measure of overall blood sugar control for about 8 weeks. Are there other names for this test? Yes. The hemoglobin A1C is also called the glyco-hemoglobin, the glycosolated hemoglobin or the HA1C. These all mean the same thing. How does my health care provider use my hemoglobin AIC test result in improving control of my diabetes? By combining the results of the hemoglobin A1C, examination, your self-monitoring of blood sugars and other lab results, your health care provider can determine how well your diabetes is being controlled. For patients who monitor their blood sugar more frequently, the hemoglobin AIC can help
