Hemoglobin A1c: This is a small component of hemoglobin that binds with glucose, commonly referred to as HbA1c. The level of HbA1c is directly related to the glucose concentration in the blood: higher glucose levels result in higher HbA1c levels. Unlike daily blood glucose fluctuations, HbA1c reflects the average blood sugar levels over the past 6 to 8 weeks. It serves as a valuable tool for assessing how effectively blood glucose has been managed recently, and can be used to evaluate the impact of diet, exercise, and medication on blood sugar control in patients with diabetes. For individuals without diabetes, HbA1c levels are typically below 7 percent of total hemoglobin. This is also known as glycosylated or glucosylated hemoglobin.
