What is a glycosylated hemoglobin test?
Definition Glycosylated hemoglobin is a test that indicates how much sugar has been in a person’s blood during the past two to four months. It is used to monitor the effectiveness of diabetes treatment. Purpose Diabetes is a disease in which a person cannot effectively use sugar in the blood. Left untreated, blood sugar levels can be very high. High sugar levels increase risk of complications, such as damage to eyes, kidneys, heart, nerves, blood vessels, and other organs. A routine blood sugar test reveals how close to normal a sugar level is at the time of the test. The glycosylated hemoglobin test reveals how close to normal it has been during the past several months. This information helps a physician evaluate how well a person is responding to diabetes treatment and to determine how long sugar levels have been high in a person newly diagnosed with diabetes. Description The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that people with diabetes who maintained blood g
