WHAT IS A GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN (GLYCOHEMOGLOBIN)?
This is a test to access diabetic control over the 2 to 3 months immediately prior to the date of the blood draw. A glycosylated hemoglobin level measures the per cent (%) of hemoglobin molecules in the blood that have sugar molecules attached. Hemoglobin is the red pigment in red blood cells that helps to transport oxygen. The level of hemoglobin in the blood is constant, but new red blood cells are being continually created and old red blood cells are being continually destroyed. On average, the half-life of any hemoglobin molecule in the bloodstream is about 60 days. Sugar molecules in the blood can attach to hemoglobin molecules in such a way that they can’t detach themselves, and this is called glycosylated hemoglobin. All of us have a few percent of the hemoglobin molecules in our blood with sugar molecules attached. This normal range for glycosylated hemoglobin varies from lab to lab but in general is about 4% to 6%. Diabetics, however, who have on average higher than normal blo
