Lab test · Diabetes
HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)
3-month blood sugar average
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
3-month blood sugar average
HbA1c measures how much of the haemoglobin in your red blood cells has glucose (sugar) attached to it. Because red blood cells live for about three months, it reflects your average blood sugar over the past two to three months rather than on a single day. Doctors use it to help diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, and to see how well diabetes has been controlled over time.
Why a doctor may order it
- To check for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, especially with a family history of diabetes or excess weight
- To see how well diabetes has been controlled over the past few months
- To help decide whether a diabetes treatment plan is working
- As part of a routine adult health check-up
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
You do not need to fast for this test, so you can eat and drink as normal and give the sample at any time of day. Keep taking your usual medicines, including diabetes medicines, unless your doctor has told you otherwise.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- Because no fasting is involved, you can book the home visit at whatever time suits you. The sample collector draws a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm, which takes only a few minutes.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
The report shows your HbA1c next to the laboratory's reference range and, in some reports, an estimated average glucose. A higher value means your blood sugar has been higher on average over recent months. Conditions that affect red blood cells, such as anaemia or some inherited haemoglobin disorders, can make the result less reliable. Your doctor will interpret it, often together with a fasting or random blood sugar.
What's included
One test: HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS)Fasting blood sugar, diabetes check৳110
- Blood Sugar 2 Hours After Breakfast (2HABF)Blood sugar after a meal৳100
- Urine MicroalbuminThis test looks for small amounts of albumin, a protein, in the urine.
- Lipid ProfileA lipid profile measures the fats in your blood: total cholesterol, LDL ('bad') cholesterol, HDL ('good') cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
- Random Blood Sugar (RBS)Blood sugar at any time৳150
- HOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance)Insulin resistance check৳790
Questions people ask
Do I need to fast for an HbA1c test?
No. HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over about three months, so what you ate that morning does not change it. You can eat and drink as normal.
Is HbA1c better than a fasting blood sugar test?
They answer different questions. Fasting blood sugar shows your level at one moment, while HbA1c shows the average over two to three months. Doctors often use both together.
How often should HbA1c be checked?
Your doctor will advise you. People with diabetes commonly have it checked every few months, and often less frequently once their sugar is stable.
Can anaemia affect HbA1c results?
Yes. Conditions that change how long red blood cells live, such as iron deficiency anaemia, some inherited haemoglobin disorders or recent blood loss, can make HbA1c read falsely high or low. Your doctor may then rely more on blood glucose tests.
How much does a HbA1c test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳550, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the HbA1c test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the HbA1c report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.