A 1 C Meter

a1c meter
a1c meter

A1c testing has been, until recently, done strictly by a visit to the physician every few months and having a blood sample sent in for testing, now it is possible to get fast and accurate test results at home with an at home a1c meter. Practically anyone who has diabetes is very familiar with testing their blood sugar, sometimes many times each day, just to track and trend their levels and try to keep them as close to normal as possible.

Though many diabetics routinely visit their doctors for A1C testing they are not sure what the test is all about. The A1C test is all about tracking the level of blood glucose over an extended time. The A1C test and the A1C meter that is used at home are designed to read the levels of glycosolated hemoglobin in the blood.

Once glucose binds to red blood cells and is transported throughout the body the hemoglobin or red blood cells, are said to be glycosolated and never return to the non-glycosolated state for the reminder of their life. Since red blood cells have a life span of around 120 days, when the doctor had the A1C test performed it is a very good indication of what the predominant trend in blood sugar levels have been for the past 120 days.

The home A1C meter, like the metrika A1C now+, is not designed to be used in the same fashion as the glucometer which so many people are familiar with. The A1C meter which is designed to be used at home is generally sold as kits with the meter and two tests. The test kits are generally not reusable and it is not possible to buy refill kits, but with the capability to test twice for around $30 makes the kits attractive and very useful, especially for tracking the glucose level over a period of time.

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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 A1CHemoglobin 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!

Hemoglobin a1c test

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