The American Diabetes Association states that approximately 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes. An A1c test, also known as a hemoglobin A1c, glycohemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin or glycated hemoglobin, is a blood test used to measure the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the blood. Glycated hemoglobin is a substance in red blood cells that forms when glucose attaches to hemoglobin.
Purpose
Physicians commonly use an A1c blood test to diagnose both type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as judge how well a patient is managing the disease. An A1c test measures a person's average blood sugar over a few months, which makes it ideal for determining how well a patient is able to manage their diabetes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains that the higher the levels of glucose in a person's blood the greater the risk for developing diabetes complications such as eye disease, kidney damage, nerve damage and stroke, especially if A1c levels remain elevated for an extended period.
The Test
An A1c test is a simple blood test. MayoClinic.com explains that a person does not need to fast before one. During the test, a person will sit in a chair and a tourniquet is applied above the site where the technician will take the sample. The technician will swab the site with alcohol to sterilize the area and insert a needle into the vein. Once the technician collects the sample, they will apply a small bandage or band-aid and a person can immediately return to normal activity.
Normal Results
An A1c test is considered normal if the level of glycated hemoglobin is less than six percent. An A1c level above 6.5 percent signals diabetes, according to the NIH. Normal ranges can vary dependent upon the lab used, and people should discuss their results with their physicians.
Abnormal Results
Abnormal results mean that a person's blood glucose levels have remained elevated for a period of weeks. Lab Tests Online explains that if a person's A1c levels are greater than seven percent it may mean that a person is not properly controlling their diabetes and are at a higher risk for developing long-term complications.
Risks
There are seldom any serious risks involved with an A1c test. However, veins do come in varying shapes and sizes, and a technician may have difficulty accessing a vein. Other risks may include excessive bleeding, fainting, dizziness, bruising and, in rare cases, infection, according to the NIH.
