THE OTHER BLOOD SUGAR TEST THAT EVERY DIABETIC SHOULD KNOW ABOUT: HbA1c

You probably check your blood sugar level one or more times per day. This is a good measure to show how you are managing your diabetes from day-to-day. But there is another blood sugar test that should be done on a regular basis. The HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c – also known as the glycosylated hemoglobin test) is a blood test that measures the average of your blood sugar level over a 3-month period. It does not provide a one-time blood sugar level. Instead, it provides an average and lets you and your doctor know how your blood sugar level has been managed over several months.

The HbA1c test measures the amount of sugar that attaches to protein in the red blood cells. Red blood cells live for about 3 months. If your daily blood sugar levels continuously run high, then a greater amount of sugar will be in your blood and will attach to the red blood cell proteins. This will cause a higher HbA1c level. A high HbA1c can contribute to diabetes complications such as eye problems, nerve damage, and kidney damage. Keeping your blood sugar within a normal range on a daily basis will result in a lower HbA1c level. A lower HbA1c level can help reduce your risk of diabetes complications.

Whether you take insulin or pills to manage your diabetes, you should have a HbA1c test on a regular basis. The test is ordered by your doctor who will either draw a blood sample in his/her office or send you to a laboratory. Your HbA1c should be checked 3 to 4 times per year. Always discuss the results with your doctor. If your HbA1c level is high, ask your doctor about what you and he/she can do to better control your blood sugar on a daily basis. Ask your doctor today or at your next appointment about having a HbA1c test. Use the chart on the right to keep track of your HbA1c test results.

DATE
OF TEST HbA1c
LEVEL DATE
DISCUSSED
WITH DOCTOR DATE
OF NEXT
TEST

The HbA1c level is measured as a percentage (%).The chart at right explains the number you receive as your result from an HbA1c test and what it means. Discuss your result with your doctor and if you are in the fair or poor category ask what you can do to improve your results.

HbA1c
TEST RESULTS

< 6 % Excellent

6-7 % Very Good

7-8 % Good

8-10 % Fair

> 10.4 % Poor

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DATE OF TEST	HbA1c LEVEL	DATE DISCUSSED WITH DOCTOR	DATE OF NEXT TEST