Question:
What is the period covered by the A1c Hemoglobin test? I am getting
conflicting information: Anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months??
Anyone know for sure?
Answer:
Sure, you test your glucose level several times a day. You're aware of diet
and exercise issues and do your best to stay on track. But what about your
hemoglobin A1c level? What does it mean and why is it so important? When is
the last time you had it checked? How often should you have it checked?
The hemoglobin A1c test is a simple lab test that shows the average amount
of sugar in your blood over the last two to three months. It's the best way
to find out if your blood sugar is under control. All people with type 2
diabetes should have a hemoglobin A1c test at least twice a year. If your
treatment changes or if your blood sugar level stays too high, you should
get a hemoglobin A1c test at least every three months until your blood sugar
level improves. Regular testing will help you and your doctor to track your
blood sugar levels over time and plan long-term treatment options to reach
your target level of control.
Hemoglobin is an oxygen-carrying pigment-it's what makes red blood cells
red. The hemoglobin A1c test, sometimes called a glycated hemoglobin test,
measures the proportion of hemoglobin molecules in your red blood cells that
have glucose attached to them (and thus are "glycated"). Once glycated, a
hemoglobin molecule stays that way throughout the 3- to 4-month lifecycle of
its red blood cell. Red blood cells are continually dying and being
replaced, so at any given time they have a range of ages in your body. In a
sense, your blood tells the history of your glucose level over the last few
months. For example, if your levels were not in control three weeks ago,
glycated hemoglobin will persist in the blood cells that were active at that
time. If your blood sugar tends to go up at night, when you are less likely
to self-monitor, your HbA1c test will indicate a higher average level of
blood sugar than you found through self-monitoring.
The hemoglobin A1c goal for people with type 2 diabetes is less than 7%. The
findings of a major diabetes study, the Diabetes Control and Complications
Trial (DCCT), showed that people who keep their hemoglobin A1c levels close
to 7% have a much better chance of delaying or preventing complications that
affect the eyes, kidneys, and nerves than people with hemoglobin A1c of
approximately 9%. The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS), a
20-year study that involved more than 5000 people with type 2 diabetes,
showed that intensive blood glucose control significantly reduces the risk
of major diabetic eye disease and early kidney damage. The study concluded
that complications from diabetes should not be seen as a natural and
expected outcome-good management of blood glucose and blood pressure can
prevent or delay complications for many people.
You can do a lot to bring down a high blood sugar level and get it under
control. Start by asking your healthcare provider for a hemoglobin A1c test.
If your hemoglobin A1c test result is too high, talk to your healthcare
provider about how to lower it. (A change in treatment is almost always
needed if your hemoglobin A1c is over 8%.) Keep the 7% goal in sight, but
remember that lowering your hemoglobin A1c levels by any amount improves
your chances of staying healthy. To get your blood sugar under control,
follow a daily diet plan, stick to a physical activity program, take your
prescribed type 2 diabetes medicines, and consult your healthcare provider
often.
