glycated haemoglobin

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glycated haemoglobin (glycosylated haemoglobin, HbA1c) (gly-kayt-id) n. a derivative of haemoglobin in which a glucose molecule is attached to the haemoglobin molecule. Levels of HbA1c are significantly increased in diabetes mellitus. The percentage of the haemoglobin molecules that become glycated is dependent on the general level of glucose in the plasma over the lifetime of the molecule (generally 3 months); this percentage is therefore used as the standard measure of the degree of control of hyperglycaemia in a diabetic person over this period.