HbA1c — Glycated Haemoglobin

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) measurement reflecting average blood glucose control over the preceding 8-12 weeks. The primary monitoring marker for diabetes management and an independent diagnostic criterion for type 2 diabetes. At 38 PLN (~8.80 EUR), a cost-effective way to assess long-term glycaemic status without the variability of single fasting glucose measurements.

HbA1c measures the percentage of haemoglobin molecules that have undergone non-enzymatic glycation — a chemical reaction proportional to ambient blood glucose concentration over the lifespan of red blood cells (approximately 120 days). This provides a time-averaged picture of glycaemic control that is unaffected by meal timing, acute stress, or day-to-day glucose fluctuations. The World Health Organization and American Diabetes Association both accept HbA1c as a diagnostic criterion for diabetes mellitus. An HbA1c of 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or above is diagnostic of diabetes. Values between 5.7-6.4% (39-47 mmol/mol) indicate pre-diabetes — a high-risk state where lifestyle intervention can reduce progression to overt diabetes by 58%, according to the landmark Diabetes Prevention Program trial. For patients already diagnosed with diabetes, HbA1c is the primary tool for monitoring treatment effectiveness. European Association for the Study of Diabetes guidelines recommend a target below 7.0% (53 mmol/mol) for most adults, with individualisation based on age, comorbidities, and hypoglycaemia risk. Each 1% reduction in HbA1c is associated with approximately 21% reduction in diabetes-related endpoints. The test does not require fasting, making it more convenient than fasting glucose or oral glucose tolerance tests. However, results can be affected by conditions that alter red blood cell turnover — haemolytic anaemia, recent transfusion, iron deficiency, or haemoglobin variants may produce misleading values. At 38 PLN, InterLab offers this test at roughly one-third the price of German private laboratory fees. The 5 PLN per-visit collection fee applies.