Is A1C Included in CBC?
Healthful Vitality | 11/30/2022 | Is A1C Included in CBC?
CBC is an acronym for Complete Blood Count, whereas A1C is a test for diabetes that tests glycated hemoglobin. These two are quite different kinds of tests. Therefore, no, A1C is not included in CBC.
Understanding A1C
A1C is a glycated hemoglobin test. In those living with diabetes, the blood glucose level is high, and much glucose passively enters the red blood cells. Red blood cells (RBCs) differ from other body cells because glucose can enter them passively, while glucose is actively transported in other cells.
However, it also means that if there is more than normal glucose in the blood, higher amounts of glucose will be found in the RBCs. Moreover, glucose binds with hemoglobin and accumulates in the cells.
Since the average lifespan of red blood cells is about 120 days, researchers understood that measuring the level of glycated hemoglobin may give them an average value of blood glucose for the last three to four months. This way, they can better monitor patients, and daily glucose values provided by random or fasting blood glucose tests are less reliable in many instances.
Nowadays, A1C is almost a gold standard for monitoring patients living with diabetes due to the higher accuracy and reliability of the test.
Understanding CBC
Complete blood count or CBC is altogether a different kind of test. It is not helpful in diagnosing diabetes. Nonetheless, doctors frequently use this test, as it may help understand the health status of the patients.
In the test, red and white blood cells are counted. If red blood cells are low in numbers, it means that there is some severe health issue. Similarly, doctors count various white blood cells in the test, like neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and basophils.
Counting these cells may indicate various things. For example, as higher neutrophils may point at bacterial or fungal infection, high lymphocyte count generally indicates an immune response towards the viral infection and, thus, the presence of viral infection. Similarly, eosinophils and basophils may help diagnose parasitic infections and allergies.
Can CBC suggest diabetes?
CBC provides broader information about health and well-being. Looking at CBC tests, doctors can understand whether a person is living with infection, inflammation, or allergy. However, the CBC test has many limitations. It cannot help provide exact information. Besides, it does not help with the exact diagnosis of the condition. It is more of a suggestive test. However, one requires other tests after this test to find the exact cause of the illness.
There are some studies suggesting that in diabetes, there are changes in WBC count. In addition, in many of those living with diabetes, there are changes in neutrophil levels and monocyte levels. However, these changes are not specific to diabetes and may occur in many health conditions. Though doctors may often use CBC in diabetes, it does not help understand blood glucose levels and does not include an A1C test. However, it does not mean that CBC is of no value, as it does provide a broad picture of health. For example, it may help understand if a person is living with infection, inflammation, or even allergies.
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