What is a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test?
A hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) test is a blood test that represents your blood sugar (glucose) level over two to three months. Glucose is a type of sugar that builds in your blood from the foods you eat.
Your cells use this glucose for energy. Insulin helps get this glucose into your cells. People with diabetes either don’t make enough insulin, or their cells don’t use it properly. As a result, glucose can’t get into their cells, which results in high blood sugar levels.
Glucose sticks to hemoglobin, a protein present in red blood cells. A high blood glucose level means more of your hemoglobin will be coated with glucose. This is where the role of the HbA1C test comes in, as it measures the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose-coated hemoglobin.
However, an A1C test can show the average glucose level in the past three months because:
- Red blood cells have a life span of three months.
- Glucose sticks to hemoglobin for as long as the red blood cells are alive.
- High A1C levels represent high blood glucose from diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including kidney disease, heart disease, and nerve damage. But with lifestyle changes and adequate treatment, you can control your blood glucose levels.
Other names for this test include HbA1C, A1C, glycated hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, and glycohemoglobin.
What is the purpose of the HBA1C test?
An A1C test is used to diagnose or screen;
- Type 2 diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes don’t make enough insulin to move blood sugar from their bloodstream into their cells, which in return leads to high blood glucose levels.
- Prediabetes
In prediabetic condition, the blood glucose levels are higher than the normal levels but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Lifestyle changes, such as exercise and healthy eating, may help prevent or delay prediabetes from becoming type 2 diabetes.
If you have prediabetes or diabetes, an A1C test can check how well you’ve been able to control your blood sugar levels and help monitor your condition.
When to Get an A1c Test?
There are several instances when you might need to get your A1c test done, such as:
- More frequent need to urinate
- Intense thirst
- Unexpected weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Dry skin
- Feeling tired all the time
However, if you don’t have these symptoms, you can get an A1c test as part of a routine checkup to screen for diabetes. Several different factors help determine how often the test should be repeated and when you should get your A1c tested. Different health organizations have different recommendations regarding diabetes screening.
What do the results mean?
A1C tests tell the percentage of hemoglobin that is coated with glucose. However, what’s normal for you depends on your age, health, and other factors. You may ask your provider about the A1C percentage that is healthy for you.
The percentages commonly used in the HBA1c test report are as follows:
- Normal: A1C below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%
- Diabetes: A1C of 6.5% or higher
Health care providers often use more than one test before declaring any female health conditions like diabetes. So, if your A1C test result was higher than normal, you may have to go through another A1C test, which can be either an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a fasting blood glucose test.
How Often Do You Need an A1c Test?
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, you have to take the A1c test immediately. However, taking this test is also crucial if your doctor suspects that you have diabetes. This test will set a baseline level for you to see how well you’re controlling your blood sugar.
However, the frequency of the test depends on several factors, such as:
- Blood sugar levels
- The type of diabetes
- Treatment plan
If you have prediabetes, you’ll probably get tested once a year; if you have type 2 diabetes, you may have to get tested twice each year; and if you have type 1 diabetes, you could get the test done three or four times each year.
Conclusion
In conclusion, getting frequent checkups is crucial if you have prediabetes or type 1 or type 2 diabetes. However, if you are habitual of getting HbA1C tests done without any serious health condition, you may prevent the risk of diabetes.
For HbA1C test price or more information, reach out to us at Aap Ki Sehat Ka Number – 03-111-456-789 or visit your nearest Chughtai Lab today!
FAQs
What does a hemoglobin A1c test measure?
The hemoglobin A1c test measures the average blood sugar levels over 3 months. It is used to manage and diagnose diabetes.
What is a normal A1c range by age?
The normal A1c test range is below 5.7%, and this remains the same no matter your age.
Does a high A1C level mean I have diabetes?
If you have high A1C levels but no symptoms of diabetes, you may have to take another follow-up A1c test to confirm the result. Also, several other factors and health conditions can make the A1c test less accurate, potentially causing falsely low or high results.
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