What Is An A1c Blood Test?
The A1C test gives you the overall picture of your average blood glucose (blood sugar) control for the past 2 or 3 months. The results provide a good big picture view of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working and this is why the A1c test is important…
An A1c is a blood test that measures the average blood glucose/sugar over several months.
The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1c goal of <7.0%. An A1c of <8.0% may be acceptable in some individuals with multiple medical complications, severe hypoglycemia, limited life expectancy, etc.
An A1c measurement should be obtained every three months for uncontrolled diabetes or with treatment changes. Measuring the A1c every six months may be acceptable for those with well-controlled Diabetes Mellitus.
An Hba1c can be undertaken at all laboratories here in the Bahamas, under your doctor’s orders. Sometimes it can take a days or even a week for the results to get back to your Physician.
Here at The Diabetes Education Network we provide a full laboratory service. At your visit a small amount of blood is taken from your finger, just as you would check your blood glucose. We run the test in our laboratory and we get your Hba1c results in 6 minutes. Now that’s fast!
The immediate feedback means that you can work with your diabetes team to make any changes as soon as possible. Besides, we live in a fast paced world, don’t you want to know your results NOW!
Contact us now, if you have questions or would like to schedule a test.
Why is the A1C test important?
- Clinical studies show that A1C levels close to normal, lower the risk for complications and lower the cost of care in the long run
- A decrease of just one percentage point in A1C level can lower the risk for eye disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and heart disease by an average of over 50 percent
- The doctor uses the A1C level as a guide to adjust medications
- A high A1C means that a change must take place to reduce the risk for serious damage that may result from diabetes. The needed changes may be in lifestyle (diet, physical activity, weight, etc.), or in medications or both
