HbA1c represents the percentage of hemoglobin bound to sugar in the bloodstream over the last three months. Because of this, it’s a much more stable indicator of blood sugar status than a fasted glucose measure.
Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin. When glucose is abundant in the blood, it attaches to the hemoglobin through a process called glycation. A higher HbA1c level means that more blood cells are glycated and is linked to higher average glucose levels throughout the day.
HbA1c is a valuable indicator of glucose metabolism, and therefore overall health due to its impact on several lifestyle categories.
Normal HbA1c levels play a key role in healthspan categories such as metabolism, cognition, sleep, and gut health.
