Glycated hemoglobin, glucose indicator
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About HbA1c
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About HbA1c
Overview and History
HbA1c is a form of hemoglobin A that has undergone non-enzymatic glycation at the N‑terminal valine of the beta chain. It is measured as the percent of total hemoglobin that carries this irreversible glucose adduct; that percentage depends on average circulating glucose levels and the lifespan of red blood cells.
First described in the late 1960s, HbA1c became widely used because it summarizes multiweek glucose exposure in a single lab value. Biochemically it is a passive marker of glycation rather than an active enzyme or signaling molecule; clinically it serves as a window into longer-term metabolic balance rather than momentary fluctuations.
Interpreting Highs and Lows
Higher HbA1c values typically indicate greater average blood glucose exposure over preceding weeks and may reflect patterns such as higher post-meal or fasting glucose and reduced insulin sensitivity. Lower HbA1c usually indicates lower average glucose exposure, but values can also be affected by factors that change red blood cell turnover or hemoglobin structure (for example, anemia, recent transfusion, certain hemoglobin variants, or shortened red cell lifespan). Always interpret HbA1c alongside fasting glucose, insulin/C‑peptide, and other Cardio Zoomer markers and clinical context to distinguish biological patterns from assay or hematologic influences.
Featured Test
Cardio Zoomer includes HbA1c to characterize the metabolic domain of cardiovascular risk: it links long-term glucose exposure to lipid patterns, inflammation, endothelial function, and genetic risk. As a stable summary measure, HbA1c helps clinicians recognize metabolic contributions to vascular stress and supports personalized monitoring and risk stratification within the broader panel.
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Mary Beth Augustine
DCN, RDN, FAND- Lead Clinical Educator
Suzanne Barker
MS, RDN, LD, CTTS, CGP- Clinical Educator
Suzette Garcia
MSc- MHNE- Clinical Educator
Brooke Mader Ganev
MS, CNS, LDN, FDN- Clinical Educator
Adair Anderson
MS, RDN, LDN- Clinical Educator
Lillie Luu Nguyen
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jason Barker
ND- Clinical Educator
Emaline Brown
ND- Clinical Educator
Dana Filatova
DCN, CNS, LDN- Clinical Educator
Jessy Dhanjal
ND- Clinical Educator
Nour Amri
MS, LDN, CNS, CKNS- Clinical Educator
