Your blood carries glucose to all of your body’s cells to use for energy. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. A falsely high A1C result can occur in people who are very low in iron; for example, those with iron-deficiency anemia. Other causes of false A1C results include kidney failure or liver disease.
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes, chances are you’re familiar with the A1C test. This simple blood test is used to measure your average blood sugar levels over a period of two to three months.
If you’ve had gestational diabetes, your health care provider will likely check your blood sugar levels at least once every three years. Your health care provider will determine what type of insulin is right for you and when you should take it. Your insulin type, dosage and schedule may change depending on how stable your blood sugar levels are. An A1c test alone does not require you to be fasting, but your provider is likely drawing other labs at the same time and some of those may require you to be fasting. You should always check with your doctor to see if the labs they are drawing require you to be fasting or not. Once your blood has been drawn, the results can come back as soon as an hour or as long as several days.
Although the A1C test is effective, people with certain health conditions may not get accurate results from it. Thus, another test should be used to confirm a diabetes or prediabetes diagnosis in those cases. Hemoglobin A, a protein found inside red blood cells, carries oxygen throughout your body. When there’s glucose in your bloodstream, it can stick (glycate) to hemoglobin A. The more glucose that’s in your blood, the more it does this, creating a higher percentage of glycated hemoglobin proteins. The A1C test measures the average amount of glucose that’s been attached to hemoglobin over time.
What is A1C?
If you aren’t feeling well, you may need to stay for a few minutes to recover first. You can bring something to pass the time in the event you end up waiting for a while to get your blood drawn. Your healthcare provider may order an A1C test for the following reasons. Hemoglobin variants can affect the results of some A1C tests. The A1C test is not used to diagnose gestational diabetes or type 1 diabetes.
A1C, also known as glycated hemoglobin, is a form of hemoglobin that is attached to glucose in the blood. The amount of glucose that is attached to hemoglobin is directly proportional to the total amount of glucose in the bloodstream. By measuring the percentage of A1C in the blood, healthcare providers can get a good estimate of an individual’s average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months.
How does A1C work?
- The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin that has glucose attached to it.
- This percentage reflects the average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months.
- Since red blood cells have a lifespan of about two to three months, the A1C test provides a good indication of long-term blood sugar control.
If your have other questions or if you would like learn more about me and how I can help you, please write in the comments below. And also share this article with anyone who might need a diabetes guide. There are other factors as well that can make your A1c results appear lower or higher than they actually are. No, the test does not require that you fast beforehand, so you’re free to eat and drink normally.
If you have health insurance, it should be covered as other lab tests are’whether it’s done to screen for, diagnose, or monitor diabetes. Contact your health insurance company if you have any questions or concerns. The form of hemoglobin in your blood depends on the genes you inherit from your biological parents.
Why is A1C important?
Monitoring blood sugar levels is crucial for managing diabetes and preventing complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. The A1C test allows healthcare providers to assess how well a person’s diabetes is being controlled over time and make necessary adjustments to their treatment plan.
FAQs:
- Is the A1C test the same as checking blood sugar levels regularly?
- How often should A1C be tested?
- What is considered a normal A1C level?
