Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)

The HbA1c Test, also known as the glycated hemoglobin or A1c test, is a vital tool for managing and diagnosing diabetes because it provides a big picture look at your blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. Unlike a standard glucose finger-prick that only shows your sugar levels at that exact moment, the HbA1c measures the percentage of hemoglobin—a protein in your red blood cells—that is coated with sugar. Because red blood cells live for about 120 days, this test effectively captures your long-term average, making it incredibly helpful for identifying pre-diabetes, diagnosing Type 2 diabetes, and evaluating how well a treatment plan is working without being skewed by a single high-sugar meal or a temporary spike.