What is Glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c)

Glycosylated hemoglobin (GHb) is the product of an irreversible, nonenzymatic, non-insulin-dependent binding of glucose to hemoglobin in systemic circulation. Glycosylation is affected by glucose concentration and red blood cell availability. The half-life of circulating GHb is directly related to the red blood cell lifespan. Canine red blood cells have a longer lifespan (100 days) than cats (<68 days). Thus GHb is used to measure long-term glucose regulation over the previous 10- to 14- week period in the dog and 6- to 9-week period in the cat.