Glucose is the most abundant sugar found in your blood. It comes directly from the foods you eat and is released by the liver and other tissues between meals to supply a steady source of energy to your body. Sometimes, glucose leves may become too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). Measuring glucose levels in blood may help diagnose someone with diabetes.
What is it and how does it affect me?
A hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) attached to hemoglobin. This biomarker indicates your average blood sugar level over the past three months, which may be useful in identifying people suffering from diabetes or prediabetes. In people with known diabetes or prediabetes, HbA1c levels help indicate how well these conditions are being managed.