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Doctor explains how anaemia can skew HbA1c
The Indian Express··3 Sept
Consultant physician Dr Palleti Siva Karthik Reddy said iron-deficiency anaemia can make HbA1c look higher than actual glucose levels. HbA1c estimates average blood glucose over about two to three months. He said longer-lived red cells can accumulate more glycated haemoglobin. Haemolytic anaemia or recent blood loss can push HbA1c falsely low, he said. Lab methods also matter for haemoglobin variants.
Prism
What It Means For You
- A mismatch between HbA1c and repeated home or clinic glucose readings is a clinical red flag, Reddy said.
- Doctors may then review haemoglobin levels and red-cell indices before changing diabetes treatment on HbA1c alone.
- Fructosamine or glycated albumin can track shorter-term glucose without depending on red-cell lifespan.
What's Happening
- The Indian Express spoke with Reddy of Elite Care Clinic about anaemia and diabetes test reading.
- He said sickle cell disease and thalassaemia can also interfere depending on the lab method.
- Once anaemia and red-cell turnover stabilise, he said HbA1c can generally be read with more confidence.
Why the Test Moves
- HbA1c measures glucose attached to haemoglobin across the life of red blood cells.
- Iron deficiency can lengthen red-cell circulation time and raise measured HbA1c without higher glucose.
- Conditions that shorten red-cell survival can lower the same reading.
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