The reference values for glycated hemoglobin depend on the patient and the reason the doctor requested it.
To diagnosis of diabetes, it is considered values above 6.5%, confirmed on another occasion. Individuals with values between 5.7% and 6.4% are considered to be at high risk for the development of diabetes.
For individuals already diagnosed with diabetes, glycated hemoglobin can be used to monitor disease control, reflecting the average blood glucose in the last three months. The value of glycated hemoglobin maintained below 7% (HPLC method) protects against the onset and progression of microvascular complications of diabetes (ocular and renal sequelae) and neuropathy. However, given that blood glucose and vascular problems have a continuous correlation, it is important for a good part of the patients to try to reach the value closest to normality. However, one should seek not increase the number of episodes of repeated hypoglycaemia.
Very rigid control may not be beneficial in all patients. Individuals with long duration of diabetes, and / or who have maintained poor glycemic control for long periods, as well as those with chronic complications already present (ocular, renal, atherosclerosis, neuropathy) may have less rigid HbA1C targets (up to 8%).
The diagnosis and follow-up of diabetes should be done by general practitioner or endocrinologist.
