Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Spanish

What it means

A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows your average level of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past two to three months. Glucose in the blood sticks to hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells, and an A1C test measures the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose-coated hemoglobin. MedlinePlus says the test may be used to screen for or diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes and can help monitor the condition. To diagnose diabetes or prediabetes, the percentages commonly used are below 5.7% for normal, between 5.7% and 6.4% for prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher for diabetes. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) notes that you do not have to fast before the blood is drawn.

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Spanish

Spanish term: Hemoglobina glucosilada A1c
Gender and article: feminine: la hemoglobina glucosilada A1c
Pronunciation: eh-moh-gloh-BEE-nah gloo-koh-see-LAH-dah ah OO-noh seh

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
hemoglobina glucosilada	General	Listed by the MedlinePlus en español test page among the other names of the test, without "A1c".
hemoglobina A1c	General	The form in the title and opening question of the MedlinePlus en español test page: prueba de hemoglobina A1c (HbA1c).
hemoglobina glicosilada	General	Spelling with gli-, used in the heading of the MedlinePlus en español health topic: Prueba de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c).
HbA1c	General	Abbreviation listed by MedlinePlus en español among the other names of the test.
A1c	General	Short name listed by MedlinePlus en español; the NIDDK's Spanish page writes it with a capital C, prueba de A1C.
glicohemoglobina	General	One-word name listed by MedlinePlus en español among the other names of the test.

The headword hemoglobina glucosilada A1c is not printed in that exact form by any page cited here; it joins two names that are. The MedlinePlus en español test page is titled Prueba de hemoglobina A1c and lists HbA1c, A1c, glicohemoglobina, hemoglobina glucosilada and hemoglobina glicosilada as other names. Its health topic page is headed Prueba de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) and gives prueba de A1c and prueba de hemoglobina glucosilada as other names. The noun is feminine, la hemoglobina, so the adjectives end in -a.

The NIDDK's Spanish page calls it la prueba de A1C and says it is sometimes called the test of hemoglobina A1C, HbA1c, hemoglobina glicosilada or glucohemoglobina. MedlinePlus en español writes results such as 5,7% with a decimal comma. Words used alongside the term are glucosa en sangre, also called azúcar en sangre (blood glucose, blood sugar), glóbulos rojos (red blood cells) and prediabetes.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	I am going to order a hemoglobin A1c test.	Voy a pedirle una prueba de hemoglobina A1c.
Patient	Do I have to fast before the test?	¿Tengo que ayunar antes de la prueba?
Clinician	No, you do not have to fast for this test.	No, no tiene que ayunar para esta prueba.
Patient	What does the test measure?	¿Qué mide la prueba?
Clinician	It shows your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months.	Muestra su nivel promedio de azúcar en sangre en los últimos dos o tres meses.
Clinician	We will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm.	Le tomaremos una muestra de sangre de una vena del brazo.
Patient	My last A1c result was 6.1 percent. What does that number mean?	Mi último resultado de A1c fue de 6.1 por ciento. ¿Qué significa ese número?
Patient	How often should I have this test?	¿Con qué frecuencia debo hacerme esta prueba?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Spanish (Español)	Hemoglobina glucosilada A1c
Chinese (中文)	糖化血色素
Korean (한국어)	당화혈색소
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Xét nghiệm hemoglobin A1c
Filipino (Tagalog)	Hemoglobin A1c
Portuguese (Português)	Hemoglobina glicada A1c
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	การตรวจฮีโมโกลบิน A1c
Japanese (日本語)	ヘモグロビンA1c

Where you'll see it

lab reportchartEOBdischarge summary

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Hormones, diabetes and metabolism

All terms in this area: Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.