The A1C test measures a diabetic’s blood sugar levels over the past few months, giving an overall view of glucose control. It measures the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in the body and is recommended at least twice a year. Good control is less than 7%, with 6% being the goal for pregnant women. Consistent control can reduce complications.
The A1C test measures a diabetic person’s blood sugar levels for the previous three months to give an overall view of how well their glucose levels are under control. The test is also referred to as HbA1C and differs from the daily glucose monitoring that diabetics do on their own in that the daily glucose test is designed to check what your blood sugar is for that time of the test only. By using the A1C test to measure a patient’s blood sugar averages over the past few months, a doctor can get a better idea of how well diabetes treatments work to help lower blood glucose.
Diabetics need to keep their blood glucose levels under control to prevent the risk of diabetes complications such as damage to blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. Daily monitoring of blood sugar levels is crucial for diabetics, but so is A1C testing. The A1C test is designed to measure blood sugars over a period of a few months, as this is how long a red blood cell lives in the body. The way the A1C test works for your average blood sugar over a few months is to measure the percentage of glycated hemoglobin, or A1C, or excess sugar that connects with the hemoglobin inside red blood cells. The greater the amount of excess glucose the diabetic has, the higher the percentage of A1C present in the body.
Old blood cells are replaced by new blood cells in the body after 120 days, so the A1C is designed to measure glucose levels every three months. Many medical professionals recommend that diabetics get an A1C test at least twice a year, more if results from a previous test show poor control. The high end of the A1C test is considered a 25% blood glucose measurement, while 5% is considered a normal blood glucose level. Non-diabetics undergoing the A1C test should measure about 5%. The percentage is the measurement of glycated hemoglobin in the body.
Less than 7% is considered good blood sugar control for most diabetics. However, the goal is usually 6% for pregnant women, and ideally that number should be reached before a diabetic woman conceives. Keeping blood sugar levels at a consistently low level can help reduce or avoid complications of diabetes which include kidney disease, eye disease and nerve damage.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
