What Does my HbA1C Tell Me?

The HbA1c blood test, more commonly known as the A1C, is both a very useful and a very cool calculation of your average blood glucose levels over a three-month period. What makes it useful is that it offers a measure of how much glucose has been in the blood over an extended period of time. What makes it cool is how it works.

How Does the Test Work?

Hemoglobin cells in the blood contain iron and transport oxygen throughout the body. These cells also interact with glucose in the bloodstream. As they remain in contact with glucose they become glycated, a big word that simply means they become coated with layers of glucose cells.

When an A1C test is done, it measures the thickness of this coating. By doing so, it determines how much glucose the hemoglobin cells have encountered over a three-month period (the length of time a hemoglobin cell lives). That measurement is used to determine average glucose levels over this period.


What Do the Results Mean?

The A1C levels are used to determine the level of control a person has over diabetes – or even whether he or she has diabetes at all.

A1C readings between 4 and 5.6 percent indicate the person tested does not have any indication of diabetes. A1C readings between 5.7 and 6.4 percent indicate an increased risk of diabetes. This is often referred to as being pre-diabetic. A1C readings of 6.5 percent or above indicate active diabetes.

A diabetic should attempt to maintain an A1C level of 7 percent or lower. That level is an indication that diabetes is well-managed and that blood glucose levels have remained fairly constant. Readings above this level will result in the physician prescribing more aggressive actions to bring the sugar levels under control, in order to head off any future complications from uncontrolled sugar levels.


How Often Should I Get This Test Done?

The A1C test is a non-fasting test done from a blood sample. For active diabetics, the test should be run every three months. For those at risk of developing diabetes, it should be run at least twice each year.

Diabetics know that it is important to manage their disease in order to prevent future health issues. Regular testing of A1C levels is a critical part of that management.

Photo: Pixabay


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...