If you or a family member have been recently diagnosed with diabetes, you might wonder what is a1c, and how does it affect my body?
What Is A1C And How Is It Measured?
The A1C test is a good test to gauge whether you have diabetes or pre-diabetes, based upon family history, any symptoms you might be having that are diabetic warning signs or your doctor’s recommendation. The A1C determines average glucose levels in the blood. It is also called the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test. Essentially it measures how much of your hemoglobin is saturated with glucose molecules. This is a condition that only occurs with chronic high blood sugar.
Who Needs An A1C Test? What To Do With Results?
If you are at risk for adult-onset type 2 diabetes, then you might be scheduled for an A1C test by your healthcare practitioner. Usually, after a doctor or other practitioner establishes that you have risk factors for diabetes, including symptoms like thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, an unplanned loss of weight, irritability, fatigue, blurry vision, fruity-smelling breath, or the presence of ketones in the urine are all reasons to be tested for diabetes.
Most doctors recommend any adult over the age of 45 get a baseline A1C test. If you are under 45, but overweight, or have one or more of the common risk factors associated with prediabetes or with adult-onset, type 2 diabetes. If you have a normal result, it is recommended that you repeat the test every three years.
If you find you have prediabetes, there is a lot you can do to influence the path of this particular disease process. By changing your dietary habits in a way that lowers excess carbohydrates, reduces intake of processed foods, and cuts out empty calories and junk food, as well as losing excess weight, you might be able to lower your blood glucose to normal levels again, and avoid the further need for medication or other medical interventions. If you have prediabetes, you will probably need to repeat this test every 1-2 years to keep a tight handle on this result.
If you were asymptomatic, but your A1C result shows that you have numbers that indicate prediabetes or diabetes, it is wise to get a second test taken on a different day to get a second opinion, essentially, and confirm the result was correct.
If you have newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, it is essential that you speak to your doctor about how to carry forth with treatment, and where to receive teaching on all of the ways that this diagnosis will impact your life, including exercise, diet, alcohol intake, and lots of other things that might need to be addressed. If you have diabetes, you should get a repeat A1C test at least twice yearly.
How To Prepare For A1C & What Is Normal?
If you are wondering how to prepare for an A1C test, there is no fasting or any other special preparation that needs to be done. It is either a fingerstick or a venous draw, depending on the needs of your local lab.
A1C results for diagnosing prediabetes or diabetes are:
A normal level is below 5.7%
A diagnosis of prediabetes can be made from 5.7% to 6.4%
A diagnosis of diabetes can be made at 6.5% or over
The higher your A1C level, the greater chance you have of developing type 2 diabetes.
Make sure to talk to your doctor or practitioner regarding how the results you have will impact your life, and when you should have a repeat test. This is a great way to find out early if there is a problem to be addressed.
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