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For diagnosis and follow ups on diabetes, most patients would normally need to undergo the HbA1C test. Many patients do not know that the HbA1C test has many limitations. However, the limitations can be resolved by doing a Glycomark test. Let’s find out more about HbA1C and Glycomark tests.
HbA1C
In 2011, the World Health Organization suggested HbA1C test as a diabetes screening test due to its advantages. The patients do not need to fast before the test. The test can be conducted even before symptoms are detected. The test results reflect the real behavior of the patient during the past 8-12 weeks. It is not affected by a changing blood glucose level on the test date. HbA1C test indicates the proportion of glycated hemoglobin. Since the lifespan of the red blood cell (RBC) is normally 120 days, the test should be conducted every 3 months. At present, HbA1C test is used for diabetes diagnosis and to follow up on diabetes treatment.
HbA1C test result interpretation
| HbA1C | Rate |
| Normal | < 5.7% |
| Prediabetes | 5.8-6.4% |
| Diabetes | >= 6.5% |
| Goal | < 6.5% |
A research studied two groups of patients with the same blood glucose level. Patients who constantly limited their diets to low glycemic foods and patients who did not control their diets have different developments. Without diet control, the patients were more prone to complications. Studies also found that the high glucose elevation after meals produces more glycotoxin and brings about more complications.
The HbA1C test result of patients with a more fluctuating blood glucose level could be equal to the HbA1C test result of patients with less fluctuating blood glucose level, as it indicates only the average blood glucose level. However, the main problem is actually the high glucose elevation after meals, as it is normally the cause of complications. Therefore, aside from HbA1C test, the patients need other indicators to check the blood glucose level after meals and assess the more recent glucose accumulation levels.
Glycomark
Currently, Glycomark test is a blood test which measures the level of monosaccharide (1,5-Anhydroglucitol type) which is actually found in all types of foods. The Glycomark level indicates the blood glucose levels in the past 2 weeks. The patients need not wait 2-3 months for the test like with the HbA1C test.
In case where normal blood glucose levels recorded after meals, 1,5-Anhydroglucitol is absorbed back into the body through numerous renal capillaries. As a result, 1,5-Anhydroglucitol is higher than 12 ug/mL. However, in case of high glucose elevation after meals, the body excretes large amounts of glucose with the urine, by which 1,5-Anhydroglucitol is also excreted. Large amounts of glucose in the urine impedes 1,5-Anhydroglucitol absorption into renal tubules. Hence, the level of 1,5-Anhydroglucitol in the body decreases.
If 1,5-Anhydroglucitol is lower than 10 ug/mL , it means the blood glucose level after meals in the past 1-2 weeks has been too high which causes glycotoxin, and consequently, may cause complications due to diabetes. The patients with high HbA1C levels normally have very low Glycomark levels. In some cases, it is lower than 2 ug/mL for diabetes patients with normal HbA1C level (lower than 6.5 ug/mL), if they also have low Glycomark level, they will be more prone to developing diabetes plus other possible complications.
Therefore, Glycomark test, together with fasting blood glucose test, HbA1C test and insulin level test can assist physicians in planning patients’ diabetes treatments more effectively.
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