Diabetes Management
Diabetes can be a scary illness to deal with. It is not just another illness that can be put on the backburner. It is something that can affect the way you live your life, and the way you live your life affects your Diabetes. This is something that needs to be addressed. The right information is required to help us deal with this illness.
Diabetes is a serious complication of blood sugar levels. Usually, blood sugar levels are within the normal range, but if it rises beyond the normal range, then the person is said to have diabetes. In this condition, the sufferer is unable to process sugar properly. There are two types of diabetes, type-1, and type-2. Type-1 occurs if the body is not able to produce insulin while type-2 develops due to the body's inability to cope with insulin.
The main cause of diabetes is the body's inability to produce insulin or the inability to properly use the insulin that is produced. When the body's ability to control blood glucose levels becomes impaired, then diabetes occurs. Diabetes is a metabolic disease that affects the body in many ways. One of these is a condition called hyperglycemia or high blood glucose levels.
The level of blood sugar which is marked as the normal range is called the Haemoglobin A1c. It is basically a simple blood test that helps monitor the sugar levels in the body.
If you have diabetes, it is a good idea to check your blood sugar level regularly. This blog will explain what is HbA1c and why diabetics need it.
What is Haemoglobin A1c?
Haemoglobin A1c is a protein that is in red blood cells, which gives them their red color. It is made mainly by the liver and a small portion by the red blood cells themselves. HbA1c is a glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb) test. It is used to keep blood glucose levels in check in diabetic patients. HbA1c test is used to determine the average blood glucose of the past 3 months.
HbA1c has a direct relation to our health. Those who have uncontrolled glucose levels have an increased tendency to suffer from diseases such as heart problems, stroke, and kidney diseases. Therefore it is necessary to keep a track of the HbA1c levels in the body.
HbA1c determines how much glucose is present in the blood. It is a good indicator to find out whether your diabetes is being managed well or not.
How to prepare for the HbA1c test?
There is no specific or special preparation necessary for this blood test. You can eat and drink normally before going for a Haemoglobin A1c blood test. It can be done during any part of the day without any kind of fasting needed. You only need to fast if any additional tests are also being conducted along with this blood test.
What are normal hemoglobin A1c levels?
For Determining If You Are Diabetic Or Not:-
Normal Below 5.7% Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4% Diabetes 6.5% or above
A normal A1C level is beneath 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% symbolizes prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more symbolizes diabetes. Between the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C levels, the greater your chances are of contracting type 2 diabetes.
For Managing Your Diabetes:-
A1C % Result Estimated Average Glucose (eAG)mg/dL 7 154 8 183 9 212 10 240 11 269 12 298
Certain factors can affect your A1c levels like-
- Kidney problems, liver illness, or severe anemia.
- Certain medications, like opioids and some HIV medicines.
- Blood loss or blood transfusions due to injury.
- Early or late pregnancy.
Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to a significantly increased risk of heart ailments, peripheral neuropathy, amputations, retinopathy, kidney disease, liver problems among others.
So, YES. It is indeed essential to keep your HbA1c levels in check to keep other health problems at bay.
How often should you check your hemoglobin A1c levels?
Since HbA1c is the average of 3 months of your blood sugar levels, it generally depends on your treatment plan that is in action for your Diabetes Management.
Though the recommended number is:-
- Once a year if you have prediabetes.
- Twice a year if you are not on insulin and your blood sugar level stays consistently within the target range.
- Four times a year if you are on insulin or is difficult for you to keep your blood sugar level within the target range.
You may be prescribed more frequent A1c tests if your healthcare provider needs to change your diabetes treatment plan or if you are prescribed new diabetes medication.
How does HbA1c differ from a blood glucose level?
Having more hemoglobin with glucose attached, also called glycated hemoglobin, which is circulating in your blood, means a higher percentage of glucose-bound red blood cells. This means, your HbA1c is a measure of the percentage of these glycated hemoglobin cells in the blood. It is an average percentage of blood sugar levels of 3 months.
While a blood glucose level is measured in weight per volume. So, say, you have a blood glucose level of 150 on your glucometer, it means 150 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of plasma. The glucometer reading shows the amount of glucose in your blood at the moment you prick your finger and sample the drop of blood.
Conclusion
The ailment called Diabetes is one of the most common ailments nowadays. There are many people even the younger generation falling prey to this ailment regularly. People need to get the HbA1c checked, in case they are diabetic. This is because this type of checking is quite simple rather than any other method.
This test is done on the blood samples of the patient which are examined and then the results are obtained from it. Many patients choose to get it done now and then just to find out the levels of their glucose in the body and it helps maintain them at healthy levels.
The HbA1c level aimed for most people with diabetes is 7% or less. Nevertheless, your individual goal will depend on many factors such as your age and any other underlying medical conditions. Consult with your healthcare provider to set your personal A1c goal. If the levels are high, then changes will be made in your treatment plan by your healthcare provider.
Unipath specialty laboratory provides home sample collection for your convenience and a range of health tests including the Haemoglobin A1c test and normal blood sugar level tests.
If you have any queries, reach out to us at +91 (79) 4900 6800 or visit www.unipath.in for more information.