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Home / Store & packages / Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) Test
Blood Sugar Monitoring
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HbA1c shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, so it is a reliable way to check for diabetes and to follow how well it is controlled. Unlike a single glucose reading, it is not affected by your last meal. A high result means blood sugar has been running high and raises the risk of damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart over time. Lower, stable values usually mean your diet, activity or medication are keeping sugar in a healthy range.
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No. HbA1c reflects the last two to three months, so your last meal makes no difference to the result. You can book at any time of day and eat and drink as usual beforehand.
If your diabetes treatment is being adjusted, most doctors ask for it every three months, because that matches the life of a red blood cell. Once your results are steady, every six to twelve months is often enough. Repeating it sooner than three months rarely tells you anything new.
Yes. Anaemia, recent blood loss or transfusion, pregnancy, kidney or liver disease and some inherited haemoglobin variants can all shift the result or make it harder to interpret. Tell the nurse if any of these apply so the laboratory and your doctor can take it into account.
A fasting glucose is a single snapshot taken this morning after an overnight fast. HbA1c is an average of the last two to three months and needs no fasting. They answer different questions, which is why doctors often order both.
A rise is information, not a verdict. Look at what changed over the last three months, such as travel, illness, a missed medication or a period of less activity. Bring the result to your doctor, who will look at it together with your other readings before changing anything.