The Mother of a Newly Diagnosed Neonate with Type I

The mother of a newly diagnosed neonate with Type I diabetes mellitus asks the purpose of a test measuring glycosylated hemoglobin. The nurse should explain that the purpose of this test is to determine:

A) The presence of anemia often associated with diabetes
B) The patient's risk for cardiac complications
C) The average blood glucose for the past two to three months
D) The oxygen carrying capacity of the patient's red cells