what amount of time is covered by an HBA1C haemoglobin blood sugar test thingy?

Answer 1

Doc j has it almost right.

Yes, red blood cells live for an AVERAGE of 120 days, but they aren't all replaced at one time. So the red blood cells you have at any one time are mostly younger than that. Therefore, the HbA1c is more weighted on the last 3-4 weeks than the whole 120 days.

Answer 2

Red blood cells circulate through the bloodstream for an average of 120 days (4 months). After this period of time, they are too old to reliably squeeze through the tiny capillaries that provide nutrients for your body, and so they are removed, mostly by the spleen. The main job of red blood cells is the transport of oxygen to the tissues, and they accomplish this by means of their haemoglobin molecules inside the cell, which bind to (and later release) the oxygen.

The glucose in our blood streams has the habit of irreversibly 'glycosylating' proteins that it comes into contact with - that is, binding to the protein (and thus often altering its structure and function). Haemoglobin is no exception, and the HbA1c test measures 'glycosylated' haemoglobin (expressed as a percentage of total haemoglobin).

Because non-diabetics have lower average blood glucose levels, their percentage HbA1c is usually less than 5%, whereas a diabetic's percentage will be higher, usually >8%... IF their glucose control is poor.

Thus, doctors use the HbA1c as a measure of how good the average glucose control has been over the last few months. Poor glucose control indicates poor compliance (the patient not taking their pills) or the need to increase or change medications.

Answer 3

I was told it is about 2 months. I am a type 1 and my HBA1C is 5.2. I am on the pump and I test about 10 times a day

Answer 4

For the last 3 months but is more on the last 30 days

Answer 5

The entire lifespan of a red blood cell, 120 days

Answer 6

Two months.