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A1c -
Why it is Important to You
What is the A1c test?
 The
A1c test is also known as glycosylated haemoglobin test. The test
is for Type 2 Diabetics and is used to check how well your diabetes
has been controlled over 3 months. The result is expressed as a
percentage.
Why is A1c important?
If you have Type 2 Diabetes then checking your A1c can tell you
how well your treatment is working and also how well your diabetes
is controlled.
Checking
blood glucose with a glucometer
is an important part of monitoring diabetes. A blood glucose check
will give a result of what blood glucose levels are at a particular
point in time. This can mean, on the same day, a reading can be
different from first thing in the morning, before food, to a reading
at lunch, after food, when blood glucose will be higher. With a
A1c test you will get a picture of how well your blood glucose
has been controlled over 3 months, almost like an average.
What does it mean?
The A1c test is an important test for judging how well the diabetes
is actually been controlled with either diet or medicines. Sometimes
a person may be monitoring their blood sugars with a standard blood
glucose meter and find that they
may have "bad days" where blood glucose is higher then the target
range set for them. With the A1c test you may well find that these
bad days are occurring too often and a doctor can get an idea whether
these "bad days" are significant enough to alter treatment.
What should I aim to get my A1c level to?
The "ideal" number to aim for is 6.5% but this is not always possible.
Your target is the number agreed with your doctor and it is important
to maintain that target. Your aim should be to do what you can to
keep the A1c as low as possible.
What can happen if my A1c levels are not controlled?
If your A1c levels are not controlled there is a greater chance
of experiencing complications with your diabetes. The key problem
areas that this can result in are:
Heart - too high blood glucose can damage the vessels
that lead blood to the heart causing poor circulation and could
lead to problems like heart attacks and stroke.
Eyes - can lead to blindness
Kidneys - can cause damage to the kidneys and many
are forced to have dialysis
These are some of the main complications
to learn more visit Diabetes
Complications.
What can I do to help control my A1c?
Knowledge is very important. By monitoring your diabetes regularly
with a blood glucose
meter you can highlight any readings above the target range
agreed by your doctor and then discuss with your doctor. It may
be, if you spot a problem early, be possible to control the cause.
Lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise can play an important
role. This is something you can work on yourself. Visit diabetic
diet to help you learn more.
Checking your A1c with your doctor every 6 months will give
you a good indication on how you have been controlling your diabetes.
Again, knowledge of your levels can help you and your doctor take
action. Perhaps treatment change is required or perhaps more work
is required with lifestyle changes. Your doctor will tell you
what next to do. The important thing is to know your A1c and
blood glucose levels so that you can act if you need to.
If you would like to more about controlling your diabetes then
visit Glucosemeters4u.com
and check out the learn about diabetes section.
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