HbA1c Testing Is Vital for Prevention

Diabetes no longer has to lead to blindness, dialysis, nervous disorders, amputations, impotence, heart disease and other chronic health problems. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), recent studies confirm that good blood sugar control is the most important thing you can do to delay and even prevent the complications of diabetes. This is true whether you are insulin-dependent (IDDM) or non-insulin-dependent (NIDDM).

To know how good your blood sugar control is, the AACE says you must monitor your own blood sugar, and you must also know your average blood sugar, which is measured as glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbA1c.

Did you know the ADA recommends HbA1c testing 2 to 4 times a year?

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) testing for all people with diabetes at least twice a year, and four times annually for those requiring insulin injections as well as those who are not controlling their glucose levels. However, according to a nationwide survey by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE), only 25 percent of people with diabetes know their HbA1c level and less than 20 percent have their HbA1c tested regularly.

Do you know your A-1-C's?

The hemoglobin A1c test (also called H-b-A-1-c) is a simple lab test that shows the average amount of sugar (glucose) that's been in your blood over the last 2 or 3 months. The HbA1c test does this by measuring the amount of glucose that's attached to your red blood cells. The higher the level of your blood sugar, the more sugar will be attached to your red blood cells. When the glucose attaches to your red blood cells, it binds with a protein called hemoglobin, forming what's referred to as glycohemoglobin or HbA1c. The glucose stays attached to the hemoglobin for the life of the red blood cell, which is about 2 or 3 months. Therefore, HbA1c test results give a picture of how much glucose has been in your bloodstream during the past 2 or 3 months.

Why is HbA1c testing important?

While glucose monitoring is vital for day-to-day diabetes management, long-term blood glucose control requires measuring average glucose levels as well. Average blood glucose levels are not affected by the time of day or food you've most recently eaten, so they give you a picture of your overall glucose control. The most accurate measurement of the average glucose level, according to the ADA and the National Institutes of Health Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) is the HbA1c test.

What do HbA1c numbers mean?

Your HbA1c results are reported as a percentage of hemoglobin in your blood stream that has glucose attached (glycohemoglobin). The higher that percentage, the higher your average blood glucose for the past 2-3 months. This can easily be understood if you look at how HbA1c percentages directly correlate to the average of blood glucose levels over the prior two to three months. For example, a target HbA1c score of 7% equates to an average blood glucose level of about 150 mg/dl, and a HbA1c of 9% is equivalent to an average blood glucose of about 210 mg/dl. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), the target HbA1c level for most people should be as close to 7 percent as possible. The diabetes complication rate is reduced greatly for a patient who obtains a HbA1c of 7 percent or less.

How can the results of the HbA1c test help you work with your physician?

The results from your HbA1c test will serve as a guideline for your physician to effectively develop the most beneficial treatment plan for you. The test results can also help you to better understand the goals your physician has set for you and what it will take to achieve them. Have you ever had a lab test taken and then wondered, what was that test, anyway? By using A1c At Home, you will become an active and informed participant in your diabetes management.