Diabetic
A1c - Why It's Important to You
What
is the A1c test?
The
A1c test is also known as glycosylated haemoglobin test or HbA1c 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 usually 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 diabetes
and food 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. Related
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