The Importance of Your A1c Levels

Elevated “glycated hemoglobin” or A1c levels in the bloodstream indicate that blood glucose levels have been consistently high over the last two to 12 weeks. Because of this, an A1c test is recommended for diabetics, but does not take the place of a fasting blood glucose test or an oral glucose tolerance test.

Checking A1c levels is useful for monitoring blood glucose control in people that may be “pre-diabetic”. This term applies to people that have borderline blood sugar levels when fasting tests are done, but the levels are not high enough to be considered type II diabetes.

Research has shown that type II diabetes is completely reversible at this early stage. In other words, being pre-diabetic does not mean that a person will develop type II diabetes, if dietary and lifestyle changes are quickly incorporated.

An A1c test can help doctors determine that a patient’s course of treatment is working, without requiring the person to start testing their own blood sugar levels and recording them on a daily basis.

According to the guidelines from the American Diabetes Association, an A1c test should be performed twice a year in patients that are meeting their treatment goals and have stable glycemic control. A1c levels should be checked quarterly in patients whose therapy has changed or who are not meeting their goals.

High-Low or in-between?

High glycated hemoglobin in the blood indicates chronic hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, a long-term health risk. Small amounts indicate hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, which is a short-term health risk, particularly among patients that drive.

If you doctor is concerned because your A1c test is lower than normal, it is because you have been hypoglycemic over the past several weeks. The fear is that patients may not realize that they are hypoglycemic. It is not unusual for patients to die behind the wheel as a result of passing out due to a sudden drop in blood sugar.

The target or reference range for A1c levels is between 4 and 5.9%. The targets recommended for diabetics vary. There is some evidence indicating that lower than 7.5% may be harmful. But, the American Diabetes Association suggests a goal of 7% for most patients.

Other related issues

Recent anemia, surgery or serious injury can also result in a lower than expected A1c test. For these and other reasons, experts believe that testing is only a tool, not a final indicator of a patient’s overall health.

High A1c levels are associated with retinopathy and nephropathy, omplications that can occur in patients with type II diabetes. So, even though you may not want to take another test, this is as important as monitoring your blood sugar levels. Get tested.