Glycated Haemoglobin Testing (HbA1c)
How to check your Glycated Haemoglobin levels with a home finger-prick blood test kit
What Is A Glycated Haemoglobin Test For?
A Glycated Haemoglobin test is also known as a Haemoglobin A1c or Glycosylated haemoglobin test.
HbA1c is a type of haemoglobin that forms naturally in the body, when sugars bind with haemoglobin in the blood.
This process happens slowly so the test indicates your average blood sugar levels over the last 2 to 3 months.
This will illustrate if your blood sugar levels are staying within the optimum range and indicate your risk of developing diabetes.
Learn all about Glycated Haemoglobin Testing:
Glycated Haemoglobin Testing UK Statistics 2021
9.4% of people tested have Glycated Haemoglobin levels which are too high.
And 0.4% have levels that are too low.
The average Glycated Haemoglobin result is 36.2 mMol/Mol
Note what is normal for you may differ for your age and gender.
Men tend to report higher Glycated Haemoglobin in their blood than women.
As many as one in ten men tested have high levels of Glycated Haemoglobin
90.2%
of people have Glycated Haemoglobin blood levels in the normal range. Do you?
Are you in the 90.2% with normal results?
What If Glycated Haemoglobin Test Levels Are High?
A high HbA1c means you have too much sugar in your blood. A level between 42 and 47 mmol/mol suggests a high risk of developing diabetes, with a result of over 48 mmol/mol indicating that diabetes has likely already developed.
Note that if you are aware that you have diabetes, and your HbA1c is below the target of 48 mmol/mol it is likely that your diabetes is well controlled.
HbA1c is a continuous risk factor for type 2 diabetes - this means there is no fixed point when you are (or are not) at risk. As such, while the 'high risk' of developing diabetes starts at 42 mmol/mol, it is advisable to maintain your blood level as low as possible within the normal range.
The best way to lower your blood sugar levels is through balanced, healthy eating and having a more active lifestyle or fitness program. We advise testing every three months if you wish to monitor your progress.
What If Glycated Haemoglobin Test Levels Are Low?
Having low HbA1c levels although preferred from a blood sugar control perspective, can result due to excess alcohol consumption, liver disease, certain genetic blood disorders, and where red blood cell levels are low.
If you have an abnormal type of haemoglobin, for example if you suffer from sickle cell disease, this can also cause low HbA1c results.
If you have haemolysis or heavy bleeding, your test results may also be falsely low.
This requires further investigation to determine the cause.
How To Test Glycated Haemoglobin?
The Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) Test allows you to accurately check your levels of Glycated Haemoglobin in a fingerprick blood sample.
You can check your Glycated Haemoglobin levels by buying a home finger-prick blood test kit below. Your sample is then professionally analysed in an accredited laboratory for total reassurance. The Vitall Diabetes (HbA1c) Home Test Kit includes a Glycated Haemoglobin test and is available for just £49.
Please see the following test kit:
