Ali Academy

A1c Blood Test Is Unreliable for Diabetes Screening

Case One – Diabetes With Normal A1c Level

Majid Ali, M.D.

A1c blood tests is used for screening for diabetes. In my view this test is far too unreliable to be used for this purpose. In this A1c Test Series, I present case studies to support my position.

Glucose in the blood sticks to A1c protein contained in red blood cells. It is called hemoglobin and carries oxygen. Proteins attached to sugars are called glycoproteins, which that makes A1c a glycoprotein. A1c is known by several names, including glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, A1C, and Hb1c.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) advises that diabetes be diagnosed when the A1c test value is 6.5% or higher of total hemoglobin (48 mmol/l or more). This position is not supported by any reliable data.

Case Study

A 54 yr-old 5′ 11″ man weighing 265 lbs.  consulted me for for hypertension (BP (185/120), shortness of breathing on walking, allergy, liver enlargement (with liver cell death [Steatosis]) and enlarged prostate. The presence of diabetes was ruled out by his doctor on the basis of a A1c test which was considered “within normal limits). The Table below presenrs his insulin and glucose profiles clearly establishing the diagnosis of diabetes Type 2. After eight weeks of integrative management his A1c test value of 5.1%.

Please consider other articles in this series for additional information and my book “Dr. Ali’s Plan for Reversing Diabetes available at http://www.aliacademy.org.