Why HbA1C results are so important
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) is a form of hemoglobin that is measured to identify your average blood glucose concentration over the previous 3 months. The test is a three month average as the lifespan of hemoglobin is three months. Two large-scale studies - the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) and the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) - demonstrated that improving HbA1c by 1% (or 11 mmol/mol) for people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes cuts the risk of microvascular complications by 25%. To put this into practical terms; the target level for diabetics is <7.1% (<54mmol/mol) so if you are like me with a reading of 5.8% (40 mmol/mol) you have reduced your levels by 1% (11mmol/mol) and you are: 19% less likely to suffer cataracts 16% less likely to suffer heart failure 43% less likely to suffer amputation or death due to peripheral vascular disease
Indications of diabetes or prediabetes are given under the following conditions:
Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%) Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%) Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol (6.5% or over)
