If you have diabetes, you probably use a hand-held machine called a glucometer to measure your blood glucose level at different points throughout the day. According to the American Diabetes Association, or ADA, "All people with diabetes can benefit from checking their blood glucose." ADA recommendations include those with type 1 diabetes who take insulin, people with type 2 diabetes who take oral medications or manage their disease with diet and exercise, and pregnant women with gestational diabetes.
Types
Your doctor may order various tests to determine your blood glucose level. Your doctor may also order a glycosylated hemoglobin test, also known as an A1c blood test, which is done in a laboratory and reflects long-term glucose control. The ADA now recommends a lab test known as estimated average glucose, or eAG, in lieu of the A1c.
Identification
When you use your blood glucose monitor at home, it tells you how many milligrams of glucose are in a deciliter of your blood, a number written as "mg/dl." The eAG is written in the same mg/dl as your home glucose reading, while your A1c result is written as the percentage of hemoglobin molecules that have glucose bound to them.
Expert Insight
The ADA recommends that people with diabetes aim for a blood glucose level of 70 to 130 mg/dl before a meal and less than 180 mg/dl after a meal. The organization also supports an A1c level below 7.0 percent, which translates to an eAG of less than 154 mg/dl.
Significance
Your home glucose monitor gives you a picture of your blood glucose control at one moment in time. This value is useful for gauging the effect of the food you've eaten and for calculating the amount of insulin you need to inject. The A1c and eAG both measure the average amount of extra glucose in your blood over the past 60 to 90 days, providing an overall picture of blood glucose control to guide your doctor's plan for care.
Tip
The American Diabetes Association publishes an online calculator that allows you to quickly translate an A1c to an eAG, and vice versa.
