Using HbA1c Wisely

Dr Joyce Wu

writer

Dr Joyce Wu

Pathologist, Douglass Hanly Moir

Claim CPD for this activity

Educational Activities (EA)

0 hours

These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.

Reviewing Performance (RP)

0 hours

These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.

Measuring Outcomes (MO)

0 hours

These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.

EA
0 minutes

These are activities that expand general practice knowledge, skills and attitudes, related to your scope of practice.

RP
0 minutes

These are activities that require reflection on feedback about your work.

MO
0 minutes

These are activities that use your work data to ensure quality results.

Dr Joyce Wu

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) has been used for monitoring patients with established diabetes for many years but its diagnostic application is a more recent development. This article provides some background to the test, explains dual reporting of results and discusses the use of HbA1c in the diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes.

What is HbA1c?

Adult haemoglobin is predominantly (97% of total) HbA. HbA1c is formed when a glucose molecule non-enzymatically attaches to the N-terminal valine of the β-chain of HbA.

The amount of HbA1c formed is directly proportional to the average plasma glucose concentration during the 120-day life span of the erythrocyte, with recent plasma glucose contributing more than earlier concentrations. HbA1c is therefore a reflection of the average glycaemia over roughly the preceding 6–8 weeks and has a vital role in assessing the risk of an individual developing the complications of diabetes.1

PASSWORD RESET

Forgot your password or password not working? Please enter your email address. You will receive an email with the link to set a new password.

Icon 2

NEXT LIVE Webcast

:
Days
:
Hours
:
Minutes
Seconds
A/Prof Samantha Hocking

A/Prof Samantha Hocking

Tirzepatide Compared to Semaglutide for Treatment of Obesity – Latest Evidence

A/Prof Gino Pecoraro OAM

A/Prof Gino Pecoraro OAM

Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause – Mythbusting for GPs

Prof Sonia Grover

Prof Sonia Grover

Dysmenorrhoea in Teens

Prof Paul Griffin

Prof Paul Griffin

Winter Virus Preparations

Join us for the next free webcast for GPs and healthcare professionals

High quality lectures delivered by leading independent experts

Share this

Share this

Dr Joyce Wu

writer

Dr Joyce Wu

Pathologist, Douglass Hanly Moir

Test your knowledge

Recent articles

Latest GP poll

"I am concerned about disrupted continuity of care for patients that use 1800Medicare"

Strongly agree

0%

Slightly agree

0%

Slightly disagree

0%

Strongly disagree

0%

Recent podcasts

Listen to expert interviews.
Click to open in a new tab

Find your area of interest

Once you confirm you’ve read this article you can complete a Patient Case Review to earn 0.5 hours CPD in the Reviewing Performance (RP) category.

Select ‘Confirm & learn‘ when you have read this article in its entirety and you will be taken to begin your Patient Case Review.

Menopause and MHT

Multiple sclerosis vs antibody disease

Using SGLT2 to reduce cardiovascular death in T2D

Peripheral arterial disease