Diabetes is a serious disease. If left untreated, it can lead to blindness, amputations, heart disease and other complications. One way to help yourself avoid complications is to test your blood glucose levels regularly. This allows you to make adjustments to keep your levels under control. Your doctor will help you order a monitor that can test your blood sugar levels at home. However, your doctor may also recommend using the A1C test as well for even tighter control.
Identification
Diabetes is a condition in which your body either does not produce insulin or cannot use it properly, says the American Diabetes Association. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children or young adults. Type 2 is commonly diagnosed in adults. You can also develop gestational diabetes while pregnant. After eating, your body breaks down the food to produce glucose, which is your body's main source of energy. Insulin must be present for your cells to use the insulin. If there is not enough insulin present, glucose, or sugar levels, will rise in your bloodstream. Over time, high levels of blood sugar can damage the body. If you have diabetes, testing your blood sugar levels on a regular basis will allow you to control this disease. If your levels get too high or too low, you can adjust your medication, diet and activity level.
Benefits
When you use a general blood sugar monitor, you get a reading for that specific time and day. However, blood glucose levels can change when you eat, skip meals or exercise. General blood glucose tests are only giving you part of the picture. It just tells you what your levels are right when you test. This means you may not be getting the most accurate picture of how well you are controlling your diabetes. In contrast, the A1C test tells you what your average blood sugar level is over a period of two to three months, says the Mayo Clinic. This can give you a much better picture of how well your diabetes is being managed. It is especially helpful immediately after diagnosis, when you and your doctor are trying to determine how to best control your blood sugar levels.
Features
The A1C test is also a blood test just like the general blood sugar tests. However, instead of testing the level of sugar that is floating freely in your blood at that given moment, the A1C test shows the level of glycated hemoglobin. Your red blood cells contain a substance called hemoglobin that helps to transport oxygen. If you have a high level of glucose in your blood, the glucose will begin to stick to the hemoglobin, making it glycated. Because red blood cells live for around 120 days, this test provides a better indication of how high your blood sugar levels are over time. Even if your general blood glucose test shows your levels to be low, your A1C test may be high because over the last few weeks, your levels were high in general.
Considerations
The A1C test tells you what percentage of your hemoglobin has glucose attached to it. If you do not have diabetes, your percentage is around 4 to 6. According to the National Diabetes Education Program, if you have diabetes, you want to aim to keep your A1C level at 7 or lower. When this reading climbs to higher than 7, you need to take steps to lower your blood glucose level. If your level stays above 7 for too long, it means your risk of complications, such as damage to nerves and blood vessels, is higher.
Time Frame
Another benefit of the A1C test is that you do not have to fast to get an accurate reading. However, it should not replace at-home testing. The two together give you the most accurate picture of how well your diabetes is responding to treatment. The A1C test should be used when you are newly diagnosed, then every time you make changes to your treatment plan. At a minimum, you should have this test twice per year. However, your doctor may recommend more frequent testing if your diabetes is not well controlled.
