What does it mean if glycated hemoglobin is elevated?
Disease description:
My uncle is 58 years old and has had diabetes for 2 years. During a recent hospital follow-up examination, his glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was found to be elevated. I would like to ask what might be the cause of this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a product formed by the combination of glucose in the blood with hemoglobin inside red blood cells. Its level reflects the average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. When HbA1c levels are elevated, it usually indicates poor blood glucose control in patients, which may be a sign of diabetes or prediabetes. It may also be caused by other factors, including unhealthy dietary habits such as high sugar and high fat intake, insufficient physical activity, or inadequate diabetes management.
For patients already diagnosed with diabetes, elevated HbA1c levels may suggest the need to adjust treatment strategies, such as increasing medication dosage, changing medication types, or improving lifestyle habits. For non-diabetic individuals, elevated HbA1c levels may serve as an early warning sign of prediabetes.
Patients should control their total daily caloric intake, avoid high-sugar and high-fat foods, and consume more low-sugar, high-protein foods such as vegetables, lean meats, skim milk, and fish. Increasing physical activity to promote metabolism and avoiding prolonged sedentary behavior are also recommended. If any physical discomfort is noticed, timely medical consultation is advised.
