Patients with poorly controlled diabetes have elevated levels of blood glucose. One severe consequence of the hyperglycemia is an increase in glucose attachment to serum proteins. Which of the following proteins, when glycosylated, is an excellent measure of the length of time someone has sufferred from an episode of hyperglycemia?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hemoglobin, when glycosylated, forms HbA1c, which reflects average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months, making it an excellent measure of long-term glucose control in diabetes. Assessment of therapeutic management of the hyperglycemia in T2D is accomplished by routine measurement of the circulating levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, designated as the level of HbA1c, often designated as just A_1C. Since hemoglobin is present in red blood cells and these cells have a limited life span of 120 days in the circulation, measurement of HbA_1c levels is a relatively accurate measure of the amount of glucose in the blood and the length of time the level has been elevated.

Patients with Poorly Controlled Diabetes Have Elevated Levels of Blood