But it’s not just in our kitchen that the Maillard reaction is taking place. The Maillard reaction also occurs at a much slower rate in our bodies. the product formed between glucose and blood haemoglobin, HbA1c, is measured in pathology tests as a time average over a few months compared to instant fasting blood glucoselevels.High levels indicate threats of long-term damage from diabetes such as sight loss, kidney failure and deteriorating blood circulation in the extremities.