Low and high sugar tests

                                                  Hi                                               Last month I had blood drawn from my arm at the hospital to be tested for diabetes.The doctor ordered two tests at the same time. One was Glycohemoglobin and the other was Hemoglobin A1c.What are normal limits for Glycohemoglobin and Hemoglobin A1c? Are these two above tests also used to test for hypoglycemia or low blood sugar?If not, what are the tests for low blood sugar?Thank you.Anthony
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Your questions are probably best suited for an internist or an endocrinologist, however, I will answer them the best I can.  Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that assesses the general range of blood sugars over the last many weeks.  This gives the clinician a better understantding of what level the blood sugar has been rather than drawing a single blood sugar reading which gives the blood glucose level at that particular time.  This test is used frequently to follow blood sugars of diabetics.  Regarding low blood sugar, the is a condition that is much less common than high blood sugar (which is what occurs is diabetics).  This is usually assessed based on random blood sugar samples and symptoms consistent with low blood sugars.  I am not sure whether Hemoglobin A1C tests are typically used to diagnose low blood sugars.  Again, you may want to discuss this with a endocrinologist (physician specializing in blood sugars and metabolism).  The range of Hemoglobin A1C levels vary depending on the laboratory so I
speak to your physican or laboratory.  I am not familiar with a glycohemaglobin test.
Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-JL
*Keywords: diabetes, hemaglobin a1c