hemoglobin a1c | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

What are Normal Hemoglobin A1C Levels?

Hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c levels indicate the average blood sugar level over 2 to 3 months. The A1c test, also known as glycosylated hemoglobin, glycated hemoglobin, glycohemoglobin or HbA1c test must be done in order to determine your hemoglobin A1c levels. T

his test is commonly used to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetes, and it also helps you and your diabetes healthcare team create an effective diabetes management plan. Higher hemoglobin A1c levels are associated with diabetes-related complications. Therefore, it is essential to achieve and maintain your Hemoglobin A1c goals if you have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

People who have pre-diabetes or diabetes need the A1c test regularly to check whether their A1c levels are within range. It also tells your diabetes care team if your medications need to be adjusted.

What is the A1c test?

When glucose enters the bloodstream it bonds with hemoglobin, a type of protein the red blood cells. Although we all have sugar attached to our hemoglobin, if you have higher blood sugar levels, you have more sugar attached to your hemoglobin. Physicians use the A1c test to measure the percentage of red blood cells that have glucose-coated hemoglobin.

Testing for pre-diabetes and diabetes: Who should get tested and when?

Anyone over the age 45 should get a baseline A1c test. You should also go for the test if you are under 45 and have any risk factor for type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.

How often should you get tested?

If your A1c levels are within the normal range and you have ever been diagnosed with gestational diabetes or have one or more risk factors repeat the test every 3years.
If your A1c levels indicate that you have pre-diabetes, consult your physicians about the steps you can take to improve your health and minimize the risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Repeat the test as often as recommended, usually every year.
If you’re not showing any symptoms but your A1c test results show you may have diabetes or pre-diabetes, confirm the results by getting tested on a different day.
If your A1c test results show you have diabetes, work with your doctor to create the best diabetes healthcare team and join diabetes education and support groups so you can effectively manage your diabetes.
People who have diabetes should get the test twice a year or more often if they have other health conditions or if your medication has been altered. Consult your doctor about how often you should get an A1c test.

Diagnosing Diabetes or Pre-diabetes

Normal	Less than 5.7%
Pre-diabetes	5.7% to 6.4%
Diabetes	6.5% or more

Normal A1c levels are typically below 5.7%, levels of between 5.7% and 6.4% indicate pre-diabetes, and levels above 6.5 indicate diabetes. If your A1c levels are within the pre-diabetes range, you have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

A1c test results can also be displayed as eAG (estimated average glucose), the same numbers displayed on most blood sugar meters (mg/dL).

A1C	eAG mg/dL
7%	154
8%	183
9%	212
10%	240

Factors that can affect A1c test results

Various factors can falsely decrease or increase your hemoglobin A1c levels, including:

Conditions such as severe anemia, liver disease, and kidney failure.
A rare kind of hemoglobin that people with certain conditions (such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia) as well as people of Mediterranean, Southeast Asian, or African descent may have.
Medications, including some HIV medications and opioids.
Blood transfusion or blood loss
Late or even early pregnancy.

You should let your physician know if one or more of these issues apply to you.

Your Hemoglobin A1c Goals

The goal for most diabetes patients is to maintain A1c levels of 7% or below. However, personal goals depend on several factors including other medical conditions and your age. Therefore, you should work with your diabetes healthcare team to set your own personal A1c goal.

For instance, your people with diabetes may have more years with the condition ahead. As a result, their A1c goal could be lower in a bid to reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications. The goal may also be different for patients who frequently have hypoglycemia.

On the other hand, older folk, people who have severe lows (hypoglycemia) or other health complications may have a higher A1c goal.

Although the A1c test is an important test, it is extremely essential to keep in mind that A1c tests are not a substitute for daily blood sugar self-testing, particularly for people who have diabetes.

Just How Low Is Low Blood Sugar

How low is low blood sugar?

Generally speaking, your blood sugar should never dip to 70 mg/dL or lower. When a person’s blood sugar dips lower than it should, this is known as hypoglycemia. It is a dangerous condition that could even be life threatening if not attended to. While hypoglycemia is more of a problem for diabetics than for non-diabetics, it should be noted that 70 mg/dL is the standard limit for what constitutes low blood sugar.

Causes and Symptoms

Hypoglycemia can be caused by one or more factors. It is often brought on if either glucose or insulin is released into the bloodstream too quickly. Taking insulin or diabetes medication at the wrong time can also cause hypoglycemia. Those who have diabetes should be sure to eat enough at mealtimes and for snack, especially if insulin has just been taken.

Skipping meals, drinking alcohol and/or changes in exercise habits can also bring about hypoglycemia if a person has diabetes type 2.

Some of the many symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

double vision
headaches
nervousness
rapid heartbeat
shaking
sweating
fatigue

However, there is also the danger of a person not feeling any of the above mentioned symptoms before more serious symptoms set in. Some of the most serious symptoms of hypoglycemia include fainting and seizures.

Blood Sugar Goals

Knowing how low is low blood sugar is not enough. A person needs to take action to ensure that his or her blood sugar levels remain stable. Generally speaking, a healthy person’s blood sugar levels should remain between 80 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL. While many diabetics have a higher range that what has been mentioned here, it is not impossible for a person with diabetes type 2 to attain to this healthy blood sugar level. However, those who have diabetes will want to consult a doctor, as one’s ideal blood sugar level range does vary from person to person.

An Introduction to Hemoglobin A1C Tests

Hemoglobin A1C tests can help to determine just how low is low blood sugar. These tests can be found in many doctor offices, but there are also home kits that can be used by a diabetic without professional medical help. The hemoglobin A1C home test should be used before mealtimes, after mealtimes and before going to bed. It will help one get a good idea of what his or her average blood sugar level is at various times of the day.

Ideally, a diabetic should strive for a blood sugar level of 80 mg/dL to 160 mg/dL. However, this goal may not be realistic for everyone, which is why consulting a doctor and using a Hemoglobin A1C home test kit is important. Knowing about blood sugar ranges, especially the low range will help keep you in good health.

Hemoglobin A1C Test for Diabetics

When it comes to managing diabetes effectively the key is proper glucose management, and the best way to check the efficiency of the patient’s glucose management regimen is with the hemoglobin a1c test. Most diabetics are familiar with checking their blood sugar by glucometer, sometimes many times daily.

So How Does the Hemoglobin A1C Test Work?

The glucometer measures the level of glucose in a drop of blood which is placed on a test strip and read by the machine. The hemoglobin a1c is also a blood test which measures the average glucose levels over a long term period.

Hemoglobin is a protein based, iron containing component in red blood cells that is primarily responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs and transferring it around the body to be used by the cells. Glucose also binds to some hemoglobin and stays bound to it for the length of the life of the red blood cells which is about 120 days.

The hemoglobin a1c test measures the amount of glucose bound to the red blood cells in this manner and therefore can give the physician a very good average of the patient’s average blood glucose level for as far back as the previous three to four months.

Since proper management of glucose levels is key to diabetes treatment and glucose levels should be kept as close to normal as possible twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, day and night, the hemoglobin a1c test is an invaluable aid.

People without diabetes have and A1C of less than 6 per cent. An A1C of more than 8 per cent suggests persistently elevated glucose levels.

You should aim to keep your A1C as low as possible, especially if you are young, but also to reduce your risk of hypoglycaemia. Your own targets should take into account your age, lifestyle, work practices, life expectancy, risk of diabetes complications and side effects and a host of other factors.

The diabetic patient may check their sugar many times daily, but only the hemoglobin a1c test can give and average which includes round the clock glucose levels.

Diabetes Maintenance with Hemoglobin A1C Test

By using the hemoglobin a1c test the patient and physician can work together to make the type of medication, diet, and lifestyle changes which will keep the patient’s blood glucose level as normal as possible, as much as possible.

Managing your glucose levels requires teamwork in which you are the central player. The best way to stay in control is to harness the support of your diabetes care team. Involve your whole family and work mates as a team to optimize your diet, organise activities and improve everyone’s health!

Find out more about good EXERCISE for Diabetics HERE!