Diabetes mellitus is an insidious and dangerous disease, which in the first stages can be completely asymptomatic. Today, doctors claim that every fifth inhabitant of the Earth affects this disease, but not all patients are aware of their illness. One of the important tests that can detect the disease in the first stage is a study on glycated hemoglobin in the blood. This test must be taken at the first sign of diabetes.   What is glycosylated hemoglobin, and what is its norm in healthy people.

Description

What does glycated hemoglobin show? This analysis determines how much hemoglobin in a person is connected to glucose. The more glucose in the blood, the higher the rates. This study relates to early diagnostic tools and is suitable for examining children. Total hemoglobin is determined during a clinical blood test.

The analysis for glycated hemoglobin is highly accurate and convenient. To prepare it, you do not need to get up early and donate blood on an empty stomach. It can be handed over at any time of the day and at the same time not to think about the eaten sandwich before going to the clinic. Determination of glycosylated hemoglobin shows the average amount of plasma sugar over the past 12 weeks.

When decoding the analysis, it is important to know that in different laboratories this component of the blood can be called:

• Hemoglobin a1c.
• Glycosylated hemoglobin.
• Glycemic hemoglobin.
• Glycohemoglobin.
• Gliked.
• HbA1C.

The main advantage of this analysis is that the test shows blood sugar over the past 3 months. That is, if the patient can quickly return to normal before donating blood for sugar, then this test will not pass with this test. Doctors can definitely determine if the patient has violated the diet in the last 12 weeks, or strictly followed the doctors' recommendations. Also, an analysis on hba1c allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and timely adjust therapy.

Norms

The target glycated hemoglobin level is measured as a percentage. This is an indicator of the total hemoglobin in the blood. When decoding the analysis, the doctor must take into account the age, gender and weight of the patient. Today, doctors use the following table to assess the patient's condition:

• Less than 5.7% is the normal level. The risk of developing diabetes is very low.
• 5.7-6.1% - there is no disease yet. However, you need to adjust the diet, and eliminate carbohydrates. With such indicators, the patient is recommended preventive measures.
• 6.1-6.5% - a high risk of developing diabetes. With these results, you need to urgently adjust the diet, and change the lifestyle.
• Above 6.5% - doctors diagnose diabetes. To confirm or refute the diagnosis, additional examinations are prescribed to the patient.

These average values \u200b\u200bare used to determine glycated hemoglobin in children and adults, however, each patient has its own possible deviations. Only a doctor can adequately evaluate the results of your analysis, taking into account all external factors. It should be noted that indicators of low glycated hemoglobin are also dangerous for health.

Research benefits

A glycated hemoglobin blood test is a more accurate sugar test. The test results are always accurate and show doctors the average plasma sugar level over the past 3 months. This test has a number of undeniable advantages over a conventional blood sugar test, namely:

• The test results are not affected by the time of blood sampling.
• Blood can be donated after eating.
• The result is not affected by alcohol intake.
• The result is not affected by stress.

In addition, this analysis is technically much simpler than other studies. All that is required of the patient is to donate blood from a finger. The result will be ready in 24 hours. This study is carried out today in any clinic. Also, a glycated hemoglobin blood test can be taken at any diagnostic center. In this case, you can get the result much faster.

Pregnancy Analysis

Despite all the advantages, it is better not to do a test for glycated hemoglobin in women during pregnancy. Blood sugar level is an important study for expectant mothers, but doctors recommend determining it by other methods when carrying a child.

Firstly, it must be said about the dangers of high sugar for a pregnant woman and her baby. With an increase in glucose in the blood, the fetus begins to grow actively, which will invariably cause complications during childbirth, because giving birth to a baby weighing more than 4 kg is quite difficult. In addition, an increase in sugar invariably affects the health of a young mother, while the child suffers. Blood vessels are destroyed, kidney diseases develop, vision is reduced, etc.

These consequences can occur after childbirth, and then the mother simply can not fully raise her baby.

However, controlling blood sugar in pregnant women is not so simple. The thing is that usually in women in position, the glucose level rises after meals. In the 3-4 hours that it is elevated, sugar destroys the health of the expectant mother. For this reason, donating blood for sugar in the usual way on an empty stomach to pregnant women is simply useless. This study cannot show a true picture of a woman's condition.

A test for glycosylated hemoglobin is also not suitable for pregnant women. Why? Just because pregnant women usually face the problem of increasing glucose in the blood no earlier than the 6th month of gestation. In this case, the analysis will show an increase only after 2 months, that is, closer to childbirth. At this time, measures to lower sugar will no longer bring the desired results.

The only way out during pregnancy is to control sugar after eating at home. To do this, you need to buy a special analyzer in the pharmacy and conduct a test 30, 60 and 120 minutes after a meal. The norm in women in this case does not exceed 7.9 mmol / l. If your indicator is above this mark, you should immediately consult a doctor. To get the full picture, the test must be carried out after each meal, write the indicators in a separate notebook.

Treatment

The level of glycosylated hemoglobin in the blood may increase or decrease depending on the patient's condition. In any case, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. Usually, the first stage of treatment is the correction of nutrition and changes in the schedule of work and rest. For many patients whose glycated hemoglobin rate in the blood is slightly elevated, this is enough to reduce the risk of developing diabetes. However, if the level is lowered, on the contrary, measures should be taken to increase it.

If a doctor has diagnosed diabetes, one diet is no longer enough. In this case, additional examinations will be prescribed and treatment recommended. If you follow all the recommendations of a specialist, you can live a full life for many years, regularly monitoring the level of sugar in the blood.

A particular difficulty in treating diabetes is to maintain a fine line between high and low blood sugar. For a healthy person, the rate of glycosylated hemoglobin is up to 6.5%. Patients with diabetes need to strive for this figure.

However, for such people, HbA1C is glycated - 7% is considered good, in which the likelihood of developing complications is significantly reduced.

With drug therapy, it is necessary to ensure that the level does not fall below the norm, in this case there is a risk of developing hypoglycemia.

All people, according to doctors, should take a blood test for glycosylated hemoglobin at least once a year. Especially important is the control of glycated hemoglobin levels in children. Today diabetes is getting younger, and parents of young children often face this problem. Monitoring the target level of hba1c in children and adolescents allows you to identify the disease at the very early stages of its development and protect the child from the development of dangerous complications.

A blood glycated hemoglobin test is also of particular value for elderly patients. It is they who most often face the development of complications that, in old age, are difficult to treat. As a rule, a regular blood test helps to identify a health hazard in a timely manner, which can significantly extend the patient's life.

So what is glycated hemoglobin? This is part of the hemoglobin bound in blood with glucose. The indicator does not depend on the momentary blood sugar content and is considered to be the most effective for detecting diabetes in the early stages. Today, in each laboratory, a correspondence table should be hung up, which indicates the target norms of glycated hemoglobin hba1c. Lead a healthy lifestyle, because the causes of diabetes mellitus most often lie in poor nutrition.

In modern medicine, there are two main ways to diagnose diabetes:

1. Blood sugar
2. Glucose tolerance test.

In the first case, information is displayed only at the time of the study, and in the second - for a fairly long period of time. It is the second test that will help identify diabetes in the initial stages and prevent its further development.

What is glycated (glycosylated) hemoglobin?

Glycated hemoglobin is the result of a non-enzymatic reaction of a hemoglobin-glucose compound.   The higher the level of glucose in the blood, the faster this process, and accordingly the amount of glycated hemoglobin.

As you know, hemoglobin is found in red blood cells. Their life expectancy is about 4 months, therefore the degree of “sugar content” of the blood is estimated for almost the same period with the glucose-tolerant test.

There are several names for this indicator:

• HbA1c;
• Hemoglobin A1C;

It must be understood that HbAc is present in the blood of every person, even a healthy one. But in people with diabetes, its level is significantly increased. Deviation from the norm should be an alarming bell for anyone who cares about their own health.

Price of analysis

To date, the price for this type of research is much higher than a conventional blood glucose test. It is for this reason that the test for HbA1c is not widespread among the population, although it gives more accurate results. If we talk about the exact price, then it varies from 400 rubles higher.

Below are several clinics where this study is conducted and the price for the service:

1. Center for Surgery and Litortipsia - 400 rubles.
2. LaserVita - 500 rubles.
3. MC "Petrovsky Gate" - 550 rubles.
4. LDC "Kutuzovsky" - 530 rubles.
5. Clinic of Leo Rudin - 520 rubles.

Norm indicators

Studies have shown that 4–6% are considered to be the normal HbA1c for men and women, regardless of age. More detailed values \u200b\u200bare given in the table.

Diabetes blood sugar score

Since 2011, the World Health Organization has determined that a HbA1c level of 6.5% is the basis for diagnosing diabetes in a patient.

If the presence of this disease has already been established, then this indicator will help to establish:

• Treatment effectiveness;
• Proper determination of the dose of medication and insulin;
• The presence of a risk of various complications (more about this in the table below) is essentially the norm for glycated hemoglobin in diabetes mellitus.

Estimation of blood sugar by results of analysis during pregnancy

High blood glucose in pregnant women:

• It says that the baby can be born large, which greatly complicates the birth.
• In addition, increased sugar negatively affects the state of blood vessels, vision, kidneys, etc.

Since the analysis for HbA1c reacts with some delay, it is not suitable for pregnant women.   So, the analysis will give a positive result for increased sugar only when it is kept at this level for 2-3 months. So, the sugar level of pregnant women begins to grow only at 6 months.

For this reason, an analysis of HbA1c will show increased rates for 8-9 months of pregnancy, when it will be impossible to influence the situation. In order to avoid negative consequences for themselves and the child, it is advisable for pregnant women to monitor the level of glucose in the blood, taking tests every 2 weeks.

Target glycated hemoglobin level in children

HbA1c rates are set equally for adults and children.   Therefore, for children and adolescents, the level of glycated hemoglobin must be kept within 6.5%, but it is even better to reduce it to less than 5%. In this case, the risk of developing diabetes will come to naught.

Why and when do I need to take glycated hemoglobin tests?

The glucose tolerance test is designed to determine the following:

• The presence of diabetes;
• The risk of a person developing this disease;
• How much a diabetic can independently maintain normal blood glucose levels;
• The effectiveness of the therapy.

As mentioned above, diabetes can be diagnosed in humans by taking a glucose test.   As established, this indicator is unstable. This is due to the fact that blood sugar can fall sharply or rise sharply.

Then the research results will be unreliable, as well as the diagnosis as a whole.   When analyzing HbA1c, the level of sugar change over three months is examined, which helps to draw more accurate conclusions. This is one of the advantages of this type of analysis.

There are others:

• Blood donates regardless of food intake;
• Accurate detection of diabetes in the initial stages;
• Quick terms of the study;
• Infectious, viral diseases do not affect the results;
• Doctors have the opportunity to find out how well a diabetes patient kept glucose levels normal;
• The collected blood can be stored in a test tube for some time.

It is also worth mentioning the disadvantages of this type of analysis:

• High price of glycated hemoglobin analysis;
• Results may be distorted due to a patient having diseases such as anemia or hemoglobinopathy;
• HbA1c may be overestimated with a low level of thyroid hormones;
• There is an assumption that the level of HbAc decreases when taking large doses of vitamins of group C, E.

It is proved that the research results will not be affected:

• The time when blood sampling occurs;
• A person has eaten or not;
• Taking medications (except for those prescribed for diabetes);
• Physical exercise;
• The presence of infectious and other diseases;
• The emotional state of a person.

How often is the analysis given:

1. During pregnancy   - once at 10-12 weeks.
2. In the presence of type 1 diabetes   - once every 3 months.
3. In the presence of type 2 diabetes   - semiannually.

In other cases, a person must determine the need for research.   So with an uncharacteristic constant thirst, frequent nausea, abdominal pain, that is, at the first signs of an increased level of sugar in the body, the test is best done.

How to take an analysis?

As indicated above, blood on HbA1c can be donated at any convenient time.   In this case, a preliminary diet is not required from a person. The fact that the person ate before giving the blood or not will not affect the results.

Despite this, most clinics put some conditions:

• Do not smoke half an hour before bleeding;
• Avoid serious physical exertion;
• It is advisable to donate blood on an empty stomach.

Increased effects

If the level of glycated hemoglobin over an extended level is elevated, then this leads to rather serious negative consequences:

• Pathology of the heart and blood vessels.
• Hypoxia of tissues and organs (develops due to the fact that hemoglobin does not cope with the function of transporting oxygen throughout the body).
• Visual impairment.
• Diabetes.
• Lack of iron.
• Hyperglycemia.
• Renal failure.
• Polyneuropathy.
• For pregnant women: the baby may be born too large or dead. There is also a risk that a child will develop non-insulin-dependent diabetes over the years.

Low level consequences

Low levels of HbA1C also lead to negative consequences, which include:

• Oversaturation with medicines that lower blood glucose.
• Adrenal insufficiency.
• Frequent bleeding.
• The need for regular blood transfusion.
• A person will have to adhere to a low-carb diet for a sufficiently long time.
• Hemolytic anemia.
• The development of rare genetic diseases: von Girke's disease, Herce's disease, fructose intolerance.
• During pregnancy: premature birth or the birth of a dead child is possible.

Patient treatment according to analysis

If abnormal glycated hemoglobin is detected, it is necessary, first of all, to seek the help of a doctor.

Only a specialist can correctly determine the form of treatment, which usually includes:

• Proper nutrition;
• Certain physical activity;
• Medications.

Regarding nutrition, there are such recommendations:

• Vegetables and fruits should predominate in food. They will help keep glucose levels normal.
• Legumes and bananas are rich in fiber, so they are very useful for diabetics.
• Yogurt and nonfat milk. Due to the high content of vitamin D and calcium, they help strengthen the skeletal system. These products are especially useful for type 2 diabetics.
• Fish and nuts are rich in omega-3 acids and regulate glucose levels by reducing insulin resistance.
• Strongly forbidden: chocolate, fried foods, fast food, carbonated drinks, which lead to a sharp increase in glucose levels.

Physical activity, especially aerobic, can lower sugar levels for a long time, so they must be present in the life of every person.

It has long been established that the emotional state also affects the increase in HbA1c, so stress should be avoided.

In any case, the person who has tested for HbA1C should not immediately panic if there are any abnormalities.   Various factors influence glycated hemoglobin levels.   The reasons for its increase or decrease can only be determined by a doctor by conducting additional tests.