Friday, November 26, 2010

Glycosylated hemoglovin/Hemoglobin A1c: something that can't be faked

"Measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin (also called glycated hemoglobin) provides an index of average glucose levels over the prior 2 to 3 months. Glocuse intereacts spontaneously with hemoglobin in red blood cells to form glycosylated derivatives. The most prevalent species is named hemoglobin A1c. With prolonged hyperglycemia, levels of HbA1c gradually increase. Since red blood cells have a long life span (120 days), levels of HbA1c reflect average glucose levels over an extended time. Hence, by measuring HbA1c every 3 to 6 months, we can get a picture of long-term glycemic control. These measurements are an essential adjunct to daily blood glucose monitoring, but not a substitute. When HbA1c is measured the results have traditionally been expressed as a percent of total hemoglobin in blood. For patients with diabetes, the goal is to keep HbA1c blow 7% of total hemoglobin. According to a 2--8 statement issued jointly by the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, HbA1c should be measured every 3 months until the value drops to 7% and at least every 6 months thereafter. In addition to being reported as a percent of total glucose, HbA1c results are now also reported as a value for estimated Average Glucose (eAG), expressed as mg glucose/dL of blood (ie, the same units patients see every day when doing SMBG)." (Lehne)


Long story short, do you think you can fake blood glucose as you refrain from eating sweets for few days before you go to meet your doctor? Dude. He will know... He will know as soon as he runs Hemoglobin A1c test. Unless you refrain from eating sweets for 3 months, the result will tell you that you weren't following proper regimen.


Bibliography:
Lehne, Richard A. Pharmacology for Nursing care. St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier, 2010.

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