Hemoglobin is a protein that’s found inside red blood cells.  It carries oxygen from the lungs to all the other cells of the body.  Hemoglobin can join with sugars, like glucose and when this happens it makes glycohemoglobin (GHb).  The more glucose there is in the blood, the more hemoglobin will join with it.  Once they’re joined, hemoglobin and glucose stay that way for the life of the red blood cells, which is about four (4) months.   This test is a better measure of what your (or your child’s ) average blood glucose level is rather than the daily testing that is done with a home blood glucose monitor.
 

 HOW THE TEST IS DONE

The GHb test measures the amount of glycohemoglobin in the red blood cells.  This test is done by a lab.  The blood can be taken at any time during the day.  It doesn’t matter what food you last ate and it doesn’t matter what your blood glucose level is at the time of the test.
 

WHAT THE GHb TEST CAN TELL YOU

• It can tell you what you (or your child’s) average blood glucose level is for the past 2 to 4 months.  You can then tell how your blood glucose management has been.
• You can compare the GHb results with the results you’ve been getting from your home blood glucose monitor.  If the tests do not agree, you may need to change the way you test or the time of your tests.
• It can help you know if your diabetes management plan is working well.  If your average blood glucose is too high your management plan may need to be changed.
   

WHEN SHOULD THE TEST BE DONE

The GHB test should be done when diabetes is diagnosed.  If you take insulin the test should also be done at least four times a year.  If you don’t take insulin the test should be done as your doctor recommends.
 

HOW THE TEST IS DONE

There is more than one way to measure GHb as well as more than one kind of GHb.  One type of GHb may be measured by several different tests.  Because of this, GHb tests done at different labs may give different numbers.  If you change doctors or your doctor changes labs, be sure to find out what the numbers from the new lab mean.  Usually, a higher GHb test number means you have a  higher average blood glucose level, but you should ask to be sure.