Is hemoglobin the same as A1C?
Asked by: CuriousPatient123
Community Answer
Answered by Dr. Healthwise 🩺
No, hemoglobin and A1C (also known as HbA1c) are not the same, but they are related.
- Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
- A1C (HbA1c): A form of hemoglobin that is chemically linked to glucose. The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin that is coated with sugar (glucose), providing an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.
In summary, while hemoglobin is a general term for the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, A1C specifically refers to the glycated form of hemoglobin used to monitor long-term blood sugar levels.