What is HBA1C test

Blog Summery

Imfortance of HbA1test

Blog Description

A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that shows your average level of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past two to three months. Glucose is a type of sugar in your blood that comes from the foods you eat. Your cells use glucose for energy.

What is the normal HbA1c level

For people without diabetes, the normal range for the HbA1c level is between 4% and 5.6%. If your levels are in the range of 5.7%-6.4%, it means you have prediabetes and a higher chance of getting diabetes. Levels of 6.5% or higher mean you have diabetes. What's a dangerous level of A1C?

What Is an A1c Test?

The hemoglobin A1c test tells you your average level of blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. It's also called HbA1c, the glycated hemoglobin test, or glycohemoglobin. It’s a lot like a baseball player's season batting average. A single game doesn't tell you how a player is performing in their career. Similarly, one day's test results don't give you the complete picture of how your treatment is working.

Your A1c test results help your doctor determine whether you have diabetes. It’s also used to diagnose prediabetes, in which your blood sugar level is higher than it should be but not high enough to qualify as diabetes. If your A1c levels are high enough to indicate either diabetes or prediabetes, but you don’t have symptoms of either, your doctor may order another A1c test on a different day to confirm the diagnosis.

People who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range. It can tell if you need to adjust your diabetes medicines.

What is blood sugar (glucose)?

Blood sugar, or blood glucose, provides energy to the cells in your body, allowing them to do their jobs. You get most of your blood sugar from the sugar, fiber, starches, and other carbohydrates in your diet. Your pancreas produces a hormone called insulin, which helps your cells absorb blood sugar to use for energy or to store for later. That process helps keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. But when you have diabetes, this process is disrupted, and without treatment, your blood sugar level remains high.

?

An HbA1c test shows your blood sugar levels over the last few months. (Photo credit: iStock/Getty Images)

How the A1c Test Works

The sugar in your blood is called glucose. When glucose builds up in your blood, it binds to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. The A1c test measures how much glucose is bound.

Red blood cells live for about 3 months, so the test shows the average level of glucose in your blood for the past 3 months.

If your glucose levels have been high over recent weeks, your hemoglobin A1c test result will be higher.

The A1c test can be done in two ways. Let’s look at both.

Blood draw from a finger prick:

You pick the finger that you would like to be used.

A health care provider will clean and disinfect the chosen finger.

Next, they’ll prick your finger with a small needle called a lancet.

They will then squeeze your finger so that a drop of blood forms.

That drop of blood will be collected into a test container and analyzed.

The A1c chart below shows how A1c levels compare with blood sugar levels.

When to Get an A1c Test

There are several reasons why you might need an A1c test, such as if you have symptoms of diabetes. These symptoms include:

Intense thirst

More frequent need to pee

Blurred vision

Unexpected weight loss

Feeling tired all the time

Dry skin

If you don’t have these symptoms, you may get an A1c test to screen for diabetes as part of a routine doctor’s appointment, such as a physical. Several different factors help determine when you should first get your A1c tested and how often the test should be repeated. Keep in mind that different health organizations have different recommendations for when diabetes screening should begin. Let’s look at the CDC guidelines first.

According to the CDC, you should get your A1c tested if:

You are 45 years or older, even if there’s no reason to suspect you have diabetes.

 

You are under 45, overweight or obese, and have at least one prediabetes or diabetes risk factor, such as a family history of diabetes or you are physically active less than three times per week.

How often should you get an A1c test?

Get tested every 3 years if your initial test results were normal but you are:

Over 45

Have diabetes risk factors

Have had gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that can develop during pregnancy)

If your initial results indicate prediabetes, get tested every 1-2 years or as often as your doctor recommends. Talk to your doctor about lifestyle changes you can make so that you don’t go on to develop diabetes.

If you test positive for prediabetes or diabetes but don’t have symptoms, your doctor will test you again on a different day to confirm the results.

Once your doctor confirms your diagnosis, you’ll get an A1c test twice a year or more. Your testing schedule depends on different factors, such as changes made to your medications, other underlying health conditions, and how well-managed your diabetes is. For example, if you struggle to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range, you may need an A1c test four times a year.

Some health organizations advise that you should start screening for diabetes earlier than age 45. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends the following:

You should begin screening for diabetes no later than age 35.

You should begin screening now, whatever your age, if you are overweight, obese, or have other diabetes risk factors.

If your test results are normal, the ADA advises that the test should be repeated every 3 years. Your doctor may recommend screening more often if you have symptoms of diabetes or your risk of diabetes goes up (for example, if you gain weight).

Diabetes screening may be done with an A1c test or another blood test that measures your blood sugar. Because the A1c does not require fasting, it’s considered more convenient than the others. Your doctor will decide which test is best for you.

How to Prepare for an A1c Test

This one’s easy. You don’t need to do anything to prepare for your A1c test.

Do I need to fast for an A1C test?

No, the test doesn't require fasting beforehand, so you’re free to eat and drink normally. But if you have other blood tests scheduled at the same time, they may require special prep. Check with your doctor.

HBA1C
For people without diabetes, the normal range for the HbA1c level is between 4% and 5.6%. If your levels are in the range of 5.7%-6.4%, it means you have prediabetes and a higher chance of getting diabetes. Levels of 6.5% or higher mean you have diabetes.

What’s a dangerous level of A1C?

If your A1c climbs above 9%, your risk of serious diabetes complications goes up. These complications include:

Vision loss or blindness

#nirokalab #bloodtest #hba1c