Hemoglobin A1C
The higher the glucose concentration in blood, the higher the level of HbA1c. Levels of HbA1c are not influenced by daily fluctuations in the blood glucose concentration but reflect the average glucose levels over the prior 6 to 8 weeks. Measurement of HbA1c is a useful indicator of how well the blood glucose level has been controlled in the recent past and may be used to monitor the effects of diet, exercise, and drug therapy on blood glucose in patients with diabetes. In healthy people without diabetes, the HbA1c level is less than 7 percent of total hemoglobin. Also known as glycosylated or glucosylated hemoglobin.
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- Hemoglobin E
Normal embryonic hemoglobin, the main type of hemoglobin found in the human embryo. The E stands for embryonic and also for epsilon, a chain that is unique to embryonic hemoglobin. Originally known as Gower-2.
- Hemoglobin F
Normal fetal hemoglobin, the main type of hemoglobin found in the fetus and newborn baby. The F stands for fetal.
- Hemoglobin normal values
11.7-13.8 gm/dl All of these values may vary slightly between laboratories. Some laboratories do not differentiate between adult and “after middle age” hemoglobin values.
- Hemoglobin S
The most common type of abnormal hemoglobin and the basis of sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia. Hemoglobin S differs from normal adult hemoglobin (called hemoglobin A) only by a single amino acid substitution (a valine replacing a glutamine in the 6th position of the beta chain of globin). Recognition of this tiny change […]
- Hemoglobin, glycosylated
Hemoglobin to which glucose is bound. Glycosylated hemoglobin is tested to monitor the long-term control of diabetes mellitus. The level of glycosylated hemoglobin is increased in the red blood cells of persons with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Since the glucose stays attached to hemoglobin for the life of the red blood cell (normally about 120 […]