About this test
HbA1c is a test that can determine if you have diabetes, or if you are at high risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that occurs when the levels of sugar (glucose) in the body becomes too high. There are several types of diabetes but they all share in common that they lead to blood sugars being too high.
It is important to make a diagnosis of diabetes as early as possible because the correct treatment can minimise the risk of complications in the future.
What is HbA1c and why is it important?
Glycated haemoglobin, also known as HbA1c, can be used as a screening test for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and as a test to diagnose type 2 diabetes in patients with or without symptoms .
The HbA1c test gives an indication of the average levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood over the previous two to three months.
Unlike other tests for diabetes, such as glucose, the HbA1c test can be carried out at any time of day and does not require any special preparation, such as fasting before taking the blood sample.
Please note: these tests are available for people aged over 18 only. In a small number of cases, it may not always be possible to provide a result, please see our terms and conditions for details.
People who may benefit from having a HbA1c test
To screen people who think they might be at high risk of developing diabetes which includes being overweight, large waist size and low levels of exercise.
Symptoms of diabetes
Symptoms of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, passing more urine than usual, unexplained weight loss, poor wound healing and feeling tired all the time.
The symptoms occur because the sugar (glucose) in your blood becomes very high and cannot be used as fuel for energy by your body. Your body tries to remove excess sugar in your urine resulting in thirst and increased need to urinate. Symptoms include:
- urinating more often than usual, especially at night
- feeling very thirsty
- feeling very tired
- unexplained weight loss
- itching around the genitalia, or frequent episodes of thrush
- cuts or wounds that heal slowly
What does this test measure?
The diabetes test measures HbA1c also known as glycated haemoglobin. Glycated haemoglobin can be used as a test for people at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and as a test to diagnose type 2 diabetes in patients with or without symptoms.
The HbA1c test gives an indication of the average levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood over the previous two to three months.
There is no need to fast before taking our diabetes test. The test is a measure of your longer-term blood sugar levels. It is not affected by whether or not you eat before the test.
Does this test cover Type 1 Diabetes?
Our diabetes test, HbA1c, is a measure of longer-term blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. Raised blood sugar and HbA1c occur in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. So, if you have had consistently raised blood sugar throughout the last 2-3 months then our test would detect it regardless of whether this was type 1 or 2 diabetes.
However, type 1 diabetes can begin quickly and so HbA1c may not be elevated in this early period. For this reason, the test is not recommended when someone is suspected of having type 1 diabetes. If you are concerned that you have symptoms of type 1 diabetes then we recommend that you contact your GP. More information can be found here: Symptoms of diabetes | Type 1 and Type 2 | Diabetes UK
Will this test show my Insulin Resistance?
Our diabetes test cannot detect the early stages of insulin resistance. However, once blood sugar levels begin to rise, our test can indicate those at risk of diabetes also known as pre-diabetes.
