Glucose attaches to the hemoglobin portion of the red blood cells through a process called glycation or glycosylation (Tietz, 1976 ). Hemoglobin with glucose attached to it is referred to as hemoglobin A1c (A1c), glycosylated hemoglobin or glycated hemoglobin (Tietz, 1976 ). Since the average life of a red blood cell is approximately 100 to 120 days (Hillman and Hillman, 2011 ), the measurement of A1c will give a MBG level for the past 4 months which is viewed as a more stable way to monitor blood sugar levels compared to fasting blood sugar (FBS) which tends to fluctuate from day to day.
Blood was obtained though venipuncture in each HPS participant and the same blood was used for assessment of serum glucose, A1 c and phagocytic index (PI). The A1 c test was conducted in the Medical Sciences Laboratory, a California licensed clinical laboratory located in Anaheim, California, using the Bio-Rad D-10™ high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The A1c values were converted into MBG expressed in mg/dL by multiplying the A1c value by 28.7 and subtracting 46.7 (Retrieved.2016June9.http://www.globalrph.com/hba1c.htm ). The normal MBG range is less than 117 mg/dL, the prediabetic range is 117 to 137 mg/dL and the diabetic range is greater than 137 mg/dL (Retrieved.2017January7. http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/a1c-test/details/results/rsc-20167939 ).
Blood was obtained though venipuncture in each HPS participant and the same blood was used for assessment of serum glucose, A1 c and phagocytic index (PI). The A1 c test was conducted in the Medical Sciences Laboratory, a California licensed clinical laboratory located in Anaheim, California, using the Bio-Rad D-10™ high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The A1c values were converted into MBG expressed in mg/dL by multiplying the A1c value by 28.7 and subtracting 46.7 (Retrieved.2016June9.