Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is still the reference biomarker in diabetes mellitus for the management of glucose control and the assessment of the risk of organ damage due to hyperglycemia.
This brief review deals with the current clinical use, the clinical advantages and the main limitations, both analytic and biologic, of HbA1c, also in comparison with other, more recent biomarkers of glucose control.
The conclusions highlight that the pivotal role of HbA1c is justified in most clinical settings, but also that the HbA1c limitations should be recognized, in order to maximize the benefits its use can supply.