glycosylated haemoglobin

the standard marker of overall diabetes control over the preceding 2-3 months, based on the fact that glucose molecules will attach themselves permanently to haemoglobin molecules and the percentage of all the haemoglobin so affected can be measured in the blood. The higher the levels of blood sugar, the proportionately more haemoglobin molecules will have attached glucose molecules. As haemoglobin molecules have a lifespan of 2-3 months in the circulation, the percentage of them glycosylated in this way gives an indication of the blood-sugar levels over this time period.