There are numerous amount of information online about diabetes, its complications, signs and symptoms. However, how does one know if they are at risk of diabetes?
The hemoglobin A1C test for diabetes
The hemoglobin A1C test is an important blood test that determines the amount of sugar in the blood or how well your diabetes is controlled. This test gives an average of your blood sugar level between a 6-12 week period. Hemoglobin is a substance within the red blood cells that carried oxygen throughout the bloodstream. When your blood sugar level is high, then the sugar builds up in the blood and then combines with the hemoglobin, hence being “glycated”. Therefore the average amount of sugar in the blood can be determined by measuring the hemoglobin A1C level. The amount of hemoglobin A1C will reflect the last several weeks of blood sugar levels for a period of approximately 120 days; if your sugar level has been high over the recent weeks, then your hemoglobin A1C test will be high.
What is normal and what is not?
For people who are not diagnosed with diabetes, the normal range for your hemoglobin A1C test is between 4% and 5.6%. If your hemoglobin A1C level is between 5.7% and 6.4% then you may be at risk for diabetes and should visit your physician for consultation. If your hemoglobin A1C level is above 6.5%, this indicated diabetes and you should go to see a physician as soon as possible. The higher the hemoglobin A1C level, the higher the risk of developing complications associated with diabetes.
If you have uncontrolled diabetes, then you are familiar with the hemoglobin A1C test and this test is usually recommended to be done every 12 weeks/3 months to maintain stability of the blood sugar level. If your diabetes is controlled, then doing a hemoglobin A1C test upon physician request is good enough, once the patient is compliant to his/her diabetic regimen.
KEYNOTE: Abnormalities to the hemoglobin A1C test is common in people who have disease such as anemia, affecting their hemoglobin, kidney and liver disease. High cholesterol and supplements such as vitamin C and E can also affect the results of the hemoglobin A1C test.
Reference:
The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test for Diabetes
