A hemoglobin The A1C test (HBA1C) is a blood test that shows what your average blood glucose (glucose) level has been in the past 2-3 months.
Glucose is an image of sugar in your blood that comes from the products you eat. Your cells use glucose for energy. A hormone called insulin helps your cells ingest glucose. If you have diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or your cells do not use it properly. This means that glucose cannot get into the cells and increases blood glucose levels.
Blood glucose to hemoglobin It is a protein in red blood cells. As your blood glucose level increases, more of your blood glucose is hemoglobin The A1C test determines the percentage of red blood cells covered with glucose. hemoglobin .
The A1C test can show the average glucose level over the past three months.
- Glucose sticks to hemoglobin As long as the red blood cells are alive.
- Red blood cells are alive for up to three months.
High A1C levels are considered a symptom of high blood glucose levels due to diabetes. Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, kidney damage, and nerve damage. However, through healing and adjustments in your lifestyle, blood glucose levels can be controlled.
Other names: HBA1C, A1C, glycohemoglobin, diabetes hemoglobin , glycosylated hemoglobin
What is it used for?
The A1C test can be used for screening or diagnosing
- Diabetes by appearance 2. In type 2 diabetes, blood glucose levels are very high because the body does not produce enough insulin to move blood glucose from the bloodstream to the cells, or because the cells no longer respond to insulin.
- Prediabetes. Prediabetes means that blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to obtain a diagnosis of diabetes. Composition in the form of life, such as a healthy diet and physiological exercise, has every opportunity to help stop or prevent or freeze diabetes 2.
If you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, the A1C test can help you keep your situation under control and find out how successful you have been in controlling your blood sugar levels.
Why do you need the HBA1C test?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends the A1C test for diabetes and prediabetes as follows
- You are 45 years of age or older.
- If your results are normal, testing should be performed every 3 years.
- If your results show pre-diabetes, you should usually test every 1 to 2 years. Ask your doctor how often to test and what you can do to reduce your risk of diabetes.
- If results indicate that you have diabetes, you should have an A1C test done at least twice a year to control the situation and healing.
- I have pre-diabetes.
- Has excessive authority or is obese.
- Has a caregiver or has a brother or sister with diabetes 2.
- Has the highest blood pressure or elevated cholesterol.
- Has heart disease or had a heart attack.
- Be physically active less than 3 times per week.
- Have gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or have a baby over 9 lbs.
- Is African American, Hispanic or Latino, South American Redskin, or from Alaska. Some Pacific and Asian American Islanders remain at high risk for diabetes.
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has.
For example, if there are signs of diabetes, an A1C test may be required.
- Feeling thirsty
- Pee a lot
- Lose weight when you try
- Feels hungry
- Blurred vision
- Numbness or tingling in arms or legs
- Fatigue
- Dry skin
- Pain that heals slowly
- More infections than normal
What happens during the A1C test?
The physician takes blood from a vein in your arm with a small needle. After the needle is inserted, a small amount of blood is collected in a test tube or vial. You will feel some pressure as the needle goes in and out. This usually takes less than 5 minutes.
Do I need to prepare for the test?
No special preparation is required for the A1C test.
Are there any risks associated with the test?
There are no sufficient risks associated with blood testing. The area where the needle is inserted can be slightly sore or bruised, but most signs disappear quickly.
What do the results mean?
The A1C results tell us what percentage of your body is hemoglobin covered with glucose. The percentage spectrum is only a guideline for what is good for you. What is good for you depends on your health, age, and other factors. Ask your doctor what percent A1c is good for you.
To determine if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, it is generally applied.
- Normal: A1c is less than 5, 7%.
- Prediabetes: A1c between 5, 7%, 6, 4%
- Diabetes: A1c greater than 6, 5%.
Health care providers often use multiple tests to determine diabetes. If test results are higher than normal, a different A1C test or another type of diabetes test, usually a sober glucose test or an oral glucose test (OGTT), can be obtained.
If an A1C test is done to predict diabetes, talk to your health care provider about the implications of the results.
What else should I know about the HBA1C test?
The A1C test is not used to diagnose gestational diabetes or diabetes mellitus.
In addition, the A1C test may not be clear about diagnostic diabetes if there are conditions affecting red blood cells, such as anemia or other blood disorders. Kidney deficiencies and liver damage can still affect the A1C results. In these cases, the physician may recommend other tests to determine diabetes and prediabetes
Supplied by MedlinePlus from the State Medical Library.
