Definition of Glycohemoglobin

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Glycohemoglobin: Also known as glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin to which glucose is bound, a measure of the long-term control of diabetes mellitus.

The level of glycohemoglobin is increased in the red blood cells of persons with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Since the glucose stays attached to hemoglobin for the life of the red blood cell (normally about 120 days), the level of glycohemoglobin reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 3 months.

The normal level for glycohemoglobin is less than 7%. Diabetics rarely achieve such levels, but tight control aims to come close to it. Levels above 9% show poor control, and levels above 12% show very poor control. It is commonly recommended that glycohemoglobin be measured every 3 to 6 months in diabetes.

The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) showed that diabetics who keep their glycohemoglobin levels close to 7% have a much better chance of delaying or preventing diabetes complications that affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves than people with levels 8% or higher. A change in treatment is almost always needed if the level is over 8%. Lowering the level of glycohemoglobin by any amount improves a person's chances of staying healthy.

Glycohemoglobin is also known as hemoglobin A1C (its main fraction).