If someone with type 2 diabetes has good HbA1c numbers but their red blood cells don’t live as long, their blood sugar might actually be higher than the test shows — meaning the test could be giving them a too-rosy picture of their sugar control.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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The influence of shorter red blood cell lifespan on the rate of HbA1c target achieved in type 2 diabetes patients with a HbA1c detection value lower than 7%

Cross-Sectional Study

Human

2023 Jan

The study shows that when red blood cells don’t live as long, the HbA1c test can make blood sugar look better than it really is, which means doctors might think diabetes is under control when it’s not.

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Source Study

The influence of shorter red blood cell lifespan on the rate of HbA1c target achieved in type 2 diabetes patients with a HbA1c detection value lower than 7%

Score: 51

DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.13345

Similar Assertions

If you have type 2 diabetes and your red blood cells don’t live as long—less than 75 days—your A1c test might not give a true picture of your blood sugar control, because the test could show lower numbers than reality.

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If you have type 2 diabetes and your red blood cells don’t live as long, your actual blood sugar might be higher than what your A1c test shows — meaning the A1c test could be misleading for some people.

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Even when blood sugar averages look good on a diabetes test, people with shorter-lived red blood cells might still have higher actual sugar levels throughout the day.

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Some people with diabetes might seem to have good blood sugar control based on standard tests, but if their red blood cells don’t live as long, the test could be misleading — and nearly 1 in 3 of these patients might actually have worse blood sugar levels than the test shows.

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91%

If you have type 2 diabetes, higher blood sugar might make your red blood cells die faster, which could mess up the accuracy of your A1c test — a common way doctors check long-term blood sugar control.

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