Hi All. We are told that the hba1c test gives an average blood glucose of 3 months, or 8-12 weeks as some texts suggest, however red blood cells live for an average of 120 days, so shouldn’t the hba1c be an average to cover the red blood cell lifespan of 120 days (approx 4 months) or am I missing something?
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Hba1c 3 months, but should it be 4 months??
- Thread starter Agada
- Start Date
Agaada - I don't have links to hand at present, but there's quite a bit of research to suggest that whilst the A1c test is considered to take a 3-month average for blood sugars, however, it is significantly weighted to the most recent few weeks.
One very knowledgeable GP I know now retests his newly diagnosed T2 patients at 6-8 weeks as it will provide an excellent insight into the direction of travel for their blood glucose levels and an insight into whether or not their initial interventions - whether lifestyle or medication based, is working, or requires further modifications.
My own follow up A1c, pos diagnosis, was done at the 4-month mark, but that's because I had been overseas, sailing the high seas for the preceding 4 months. It's a hard life, but somebody has to do it.
