The success of treatment largely depends on the correct diagnosis. For this, various studies of internal organs are carried out, including a blood test. At the same time, special attention is paid to the main element of the circulatory system - hemoglobin. It has an important function - to ensure the delivery of oxygen to all organs and tissues in the body. How to donate blood for hemoglobin?
The role of hemoglobin
In its structure, hemoglobin is a protein of complex structure with the inclusion of iron. In addition to its main duty of transporting oxygen, it also helps to bind carbon dioxide or CO2 in the tissues and release it from the lungs. But there is also another useful task that hemoglobin performs - ensuring the normal mode of metabolism between blood cells.
Now the value of this protein is unlikely to be overestimated or underestimated. This is another sign that mother nature has provided for everything. Tellingly, hemoglobin can be of two types:
- Pathological - it is formed due to some defect in the structure of the protein, which is due to its combination with carbon monoxide, chemicals.
- Physiological - this form, in turn, is divided into several more varieties. One type of protein is found in the blood of adults. Another type of hemoglobin (called fetal) is found only in children under two years of age and disappears completely with age.
And actually where can I donate blood for hemoglobin? Usually, in case of complaints, the doctor himself writes out the appropriate referral, which is part of the diagnostic study. But if you wish, it makes sense to contact the laboratory, which is present in every city.
The study of this protein allows you to identify the presence of any disease or to make sure that all body systems are functioning normally. The deviation of the amount of hemoglobin in one direction or another already indicates that the violation is present.
But at the same time, it should be borne in mind that some natural factors can also cause a discrepancy with the norm. But if we talk about violations, then a low level of hemoglobin indicates anemia. Exceeding the norm indicates the presence of a disease that is caused by thickening of the blood plasma.
Glycated hemoglobin
There is another concept - glycated hemoglobin or glycohemoglobin (HbA1C). How to donate blood for glycated hemoglobin? Its presence is detected during a biochemical blood test. Thanks to this, you can find out the average blood sugar level of the human body, but for a long period (3 months). This is the main difference from the glucose measurement, which shows the sugar level at a particular point in the study.
All this is directly related to such a disease as diabetes. Unfortunately, the number of people with this diagnosis is increasing every year. An analysis of hemoglobin allows you to determine how much protein is in combination with glucose molecules. And the deviation from the norm in this case indicates the development of diabetes.
The danger of this disease lies in the fact that the processes occurring in the body can lead to irreversible consequences. With an increase in blood glucose levels, the risk of serious pathologies and complications in their background increases. Therefore, one should not only know whether it is possible to donate blood with low hemoglobin, but also understand the importance of this study. Although with a small amount of protein, the patient will simply be refused an analysis for his own good. Probably due to anemia.
Erythrocytes with hemoglobin live on average 120-125 days, for this reason, the study indicates the level of glucose in relation to exactly 3 months. Moreover, the analysis should be carried out not only for preventive purposes. In mandatoryorder, it is assigned to those patients who are undergoing a therapeutic course or have already completed the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In this way, the doctor can evaluate how effective the therapy was during the last quarter.
Hemoglobin and pregnancy
Controlling hemoglobin levels in pregnant women is especially important, as abnormalities up or down can have serious consequences. And this applies not only to the course of the pregnancy itself, but also to the child. Normally, the protein indicator is kept within 12-14 units.
Those who want to know how to donate blood for glycated hemoglobin should take into account one important point. Deviations can be minor, which can also be regarded as the norm, since in most cases they are short-lived. In the female body of a pregnant woman, hemoglobin, in addition to normalizing blood flow between internal organs, forms a connection with the placenta, through which the child receives the necessary amount of oxygen.
When blood protein levels are low, graying symptoms are felt:
- dizziness, migraine;
- the strength of the immune system is weakening;
- decrease in performance level;
- fragility of nails, hair;
- sleepless nights;
- dry skin (body and face).
In most cases, hemoglobin levels in pregnant women decrease after the 20th week. At the same time, this negatively affects the development of the child - first of all, its growth slows down, even in the womb, its immunitygreatly undermined, and the metabolic process worsens. Therefore, many women are concerned about how to properly donate blood for hemoglobin.
It is more likely that the child will subsequently be born with low birth weight, and will also seriously lag behind their peers in their development. In addition, complications cannot be avoided during the birth of a child. Due to the low content of hemoglobin, labor activity slows down significantly. There may also be heavy bleeding.
Rules for testing for hemoglobin
As we have now found out, a hemoglobin analysis allows you to find out the amount of iron-containing protein in the circulatory system over the past three months. No special preliminary preparation is required. However, it is important to perform this procedure early in the morning and preferably on an empty stomach. Moreover, the last meal should be at least eight hours ago.
Do you take blood for hemoglobin on an empty stomach or not? This question worries many pregnant women who can simply faint on an empty stomach. In this case, you can and even need to take something to eat with you after the procedure. Chocolate will be the best option so that you do not feel worse and do not lose strength.
At the same time, a week before the procedure, you must stop taking medications. However, if this is not possible, you should discuss this issue with your doctor. Also, without fail, on the eve of the analysis, it is worth refraining from eating fatty foods and junk food. In addition, tryavoid strenuous exercise and stay calm.
Total hemoglobin sampling procedure
The level of normal hemoglobin can be found by performing a complete blood count. For this, material is taken from capillaries, that is, from a finger. His nurse pre-disinfects. Now the process itself, how blood is donated for hemoglobin.
Directly, the puncture itself is done using a disposable instrument, which the medical worker opens in the presence of the patient. Then, armed with a special device (a glass tube connected to a small pear through an elastic transparent thin hose, but sometimes it is immediately located at the end of this tube), collects the released blood from the finger. After that, the seized material is placed in test tubes, which are sent to the laboratory for testing.
It was mentioned above that the physiological form of hemoglobin has several varieties, but it is worth dwelling on this in a little more detail. There are three of them:
- HbO2 is a combination of hemoglobin and oxygen, and such blood flows only through the arteries. This duet gives it a bright red and rich hue.
- HbH is already a restored protein that has already given up its portion O2.
- HbCO2 - as you can understand, instead of oxygen, hemoglobin combines with carbon dioxide and due to this, the blood is already becoming darker. The veins themselves are bluish in color.
We are already familiar with the pathological form. When conductingresearch focuses on physiological hemoglobin. The data obtained are compared with a table containing norm indicators, depending on the gender of the patient, his age. Possible deviations are also taken into account, which are due to the individual characteristics of the human body.
Analysis for glycated hemoglobin
Where to donate blood for glycated hemoglobin? Actually, in the same place where the procedure is carried out in relation to the total protein - the clinic, the laboratory. But how is biological material taken in this case? Special preliminary preparation is also not required here. At the same time, you can donate blood on an empty stomach or on a full stomach - this will in no way affect the final result.
It is enough to follow the general rules for preparing for the study. Before the procedure, do not drink alcohol-containing and energy drinks for 6-12 days, avoid physical and nervous overstrain. Also refrain from smoking. The same applies to taking medications. They just can distort the results, and therefore it is temporarily worth stopping using them.
However, if therapy cannot be interrupted for any reason, it is worth notifying the doctor in advance. In this case, he will evaluate all the risks of drug withdrawal, and also determine whether it is worth conducting such an analysis at all. Also, there should not be a question, do they give blood for hemoglobin on an empty stomach or not?
The only difference lies in the method of sampling biological material. Total hemoglobin levelis determined by taking blood from a finger, while for glycated protein - from a vein.
Venous blood sampling procedure
As we now know, to determine the level of hemoglobin in relation to diabetes, venous blood is needed. For this, the procedure is performed according to the standard algorithm. The patient takes a comfortable sitting position in a chair, puts his hand on a special cushion, slightly bending it at the elbow.
After that, the nurse pulls the arm just above the elbow with a tourniquet, placing a napkin in advance (to protect against damage). Now you can proceed directly to the procedure:
- skin area treated with disinfectant;
- a needle is inserted and the required amount of blood is drawn;
- syringe removed;
- the injection site is also processed and a cotton swab is additionally applied. Once the bleeding has stopped, it can be discarded.
However, in a number of medical institutions, this procedure, like donating blood for hemoglobin, may differ from the established standard. A special vacuum tube is used there, which minimizes trauma to the skin and increases the reliability of the data.
Interpretation of results
If the results of the analysis show an elevated level of hemoglobin in the blood, this does not yet indicate the development of diabetes. But with a greater degree of probability, one thing can be said - the process of carbohydrate metabolism is clearly violated.
Only the attending physician can detect the presence of this or that disease. Atin some cases, additional studies will be required to exclude other options for the reaction of the body.
For example, a low level of glycated protein (hypoglycemia) can indicate many diseases, including the development of a pancreatic tumor. This pathological condition in the body leads to increased production of insulin. Due to this, the sugar level drops, which causes hypoglycemia.
In this regard, it is important for patients not only to understand when it is better to donate blood for hemoglobin, they are not recommended to try to interpret the results of the tests themselves. It must be remembered that they are not always true. And here, in many respects, everything depends not only on the actions of medical workers, but also on the preparation of the patient for analysis. Therefore, there are certain rules that are not difficult to follow, they allow you to avoid distorting the results.
Normal indicators
What should be the normal level of total hemoglobin? It all depends on many factors. Representatives of the strong half of humanity have a slightly higher amount of protein in the circulatory system than women. This is due to the peculiarity of the body and the influence of the hormone testosterone. The average value also depends not only on gender, but also on the age of the person. The norm parameters are shown in the table below.
| Patient age | Norm for men, g/l | Norm in women, g/l |
| From 12under 15 | 120-160 | 112-152 |
| 15 to 18 years old | 117-160 | 115-153 |
| 18 to 65 years old | 130-160 | 120-155 |
| Over 65s | 125-165 | 120-157 |
As for children under 12 years old, the amount of hemoglobin in boys is the same as in girls. Its level varies according to the age parameter. It is desirable to know this for anyone who is interested in how to properly take a blood test for hemoglobin. The average protein value is below:
From birth to 14 days - 135-200 g/l
- 2 to 4 weeks - 115-180 g/l.
- 1 to 2 months - 90-130 g/l.
- 2 to 6 months - 95-140 g/l.
- 6 months to 1 year - 105-140 g/l.
- 1 to 5 years - 100-140 g/l.
- From 5 to 12 years - 115-145 g/l.
At the same time, the average value of the norm, regardless of the age of the patient, in a he althy person can be in the range of 110-160 g / l. Over the years, the blood begins to thicken, respectively, and the level of hemoglobin, from a theoretical point of view, should increase. But in reality, everything is different. And this is mainly due to the fact that most older people have various diseases. As a result, hemoglobin levels fall, leading to anemia.
In pregnant womenthe level of total protein also decreases, but only in the second half of the term. This can also be considered the norm. This is due to the fact that the volume of blood in the body increases, and the bone marrow does not have time to produce the required amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin. For this reason, the norm for pregnant women is 110 g / l.
Glyc protein norm
As for the question, "how to donate blood for glycosylated hemoglobin", its value is determined as a percentage. In this case, again, it all depends on the age, gender and state of he alth of the person. The norm indicators are presented in the table below.
| Normative | Persons under 45, % | After 45, % | People over 65, % |
| Normal | Less than 6, 5 | Under 7 | Under 7, 5 |
| Satisfactory result | 6, 5 to 7 | 7 to 7, 5 | From 7, 5 to 8 |
| Increased value | Over 7 | Over 7, 5 | More than 8 |
If the analysis shows the result is within the normal range, then there is no reason for concern - the person is completely he althy. With satisfactory indications, you should think about your own he alth. And the sooner the better. As you can understand, increased values should already force anyonea person to seek immediate medical attention - it is likely that diabetes will develop.
Pregnant women also have their own norm:
- Normal readings are no more than 6% - in this case, there are no problems with the absorption of carbohydrates.
- Satisfactory values range from 6% to 6.5% - it is worth changing your diet, as the risk of developing diabetes is quite high. The best choice is a low-carbohydrate diet.
- Elevated protein is already more than 6.5% - patients who already have diabetes mellitus, the level of glycated hemoglobin can be from 6.5% to 8%.
In this regard, every expectant mother also needs to know how to take a blood test for glycated hemoglobin. At the same time, even if a person feels completely he althy, he should still be periodically tested for diabetes. This is especially true for those who have had people suffering from this disease in their family. In addition, all pregnant women should also be on the lookout as gestational diabetes is not uncommon.
Correction of low hemoglobin levels
Correction of hemoglobin levels can be done not only by taking medications. In addition, it is worth sticking to a certain diet depending on the situation.
How to take a blood test for hemoglobin is clear, now it’s worth touching on what can be done to adjust its amount. If the hemoglobin level is low, then it can be increased by eating foods withrich in protein and iron. Beef or chicken meat and liver are especially valuable in this regard. It is worth considering that iron is absorbed much better from animal products. Pomegranate, buckwheat and apples also contain a lot of this essential element.
The use of other equally he althy foods will help bring the level of hemoglobin back to normal:
- parsley;
- walnuts;
- spinach;
- persimmons;
- honey.
In addition, a balanced diet should be supplemented with physical activity (moderate intensity), observance of the night regimen. You should also be outdoors whenever possible - the benefits of oxygen should not be discounted either.
Diet with high hemoglobin levels
Those who are interested in how to donate blood for hemoglobin correctly may wonder what can be done if its level rises? First of all, it is necessary to exclude all red-colored foods from the diet:
- meat (beef, pork, liver);
- tomatoes;
- garnet;
- red fruits (including apples of any variety), but citruses (lemon in particular) can be considered a pleasant exception;
- carrot.
Berries should also be treated with caution. As for meat products, it is better to replace them with fish and other seafood for the period of diet. The use of oats and pearl barley should be significantly limited, but legumes and dairy products should be includedinto the diet. In addition, patients with high hemoglobin levels need to arrange fasting days for themselves at least once a week.
Fish oil, which can be found in almost any pharmacy in the form of capsules, will be a great dietary supplement. Shilajit will also help to cope with increased protein levels.
How often to donate blood for hemoglobin?
Completely he althy people, upon reaching the age of 35, should be tested for hemoglobin at least once every three years. But some people should carry out this procedure more often - once a year. In particular, this applies to the following cases:
- All people who have relatives with diabetes in their family.
- Obesity.
- Work involves little physical activity.
- Alcohol and tobacco abuse.
In addition, the risk group includes women who have had gestational diabetes and women with polycystic ovaries. It is also necessary to monitor the level of hemoglobin in young children and adolescents. As a result, it is possible to detect any problems in the body in a timely manner and prevent possible complications in case of diabetes.
But the elderly should be especially careful. As a rule, after reaching the age of 65, most of them are diagnosed with an increase in the level of sugar in the circulatory system.
However, many are not only not interested in how to donate blood for hemoglobin, but are also in no hurry to see a doctor and do it after when they feel seriousworsened. But it is much more difficult to eliminate complications in old age. Therefore, the importance of regular blood testing should not be underestimated!
