Oevels loss medications. Hunger control before bedtime could be measured at HbAc levels but this is rarely done, levells expensive and should not elvels necessary if levles are being monitored by your doctor. A diabetic person with good glucose control has an HbA 1c level that is close to or within the reference range. Most of us have type A haemoglobin HbA, or adult haemoglobinbut some people have a variant form of haemoglobin.

Video

How I Lowered My A1c in 30 Days - Discover 5 Simple Steps

HbAc levels -

Your health care team will direct you on how often and when you should test your blood sugar. The measurement shows your blood sugar level at the time you do the test. Therefore, there is some variability throughout the day based on eating, exercise, stress and other factors.

Self-monitoring helps you make choices about diet and exercise and daily treatment goals, but it also helps you track whether you are meeting your A1C target. The most common form of the oxygen-transporting hemoglobin protein is called hemoglobin A. The presence of other variants of the protein may result in inaccurate A1C test results.

Hemoglobin variants are more common among people of African, Mediterranean or Southeast Asian descent. If you have a hemoglobin variant, your test may need to be sent to a specialized lab or you may need a different test for diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes.

Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview The A1C test is a common blood test used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. More Information Diabetes Hyperglycemia in diabetes Prediabetes Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes in children Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes in children Show more related information.

Request an appointment. Thank you for subscribing! Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. By Mayo Clinic Staff. Show references American Diabetes Association, Professional Practice Committee.

Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes — Diabetes Care. Type 2 diabetes mellitus adult. Mayo Clinic; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Accessed Jan. Diabetes overview. Accessed Dec. Related Diabetes Hyperglycemia in diabetes Prediabetes Type 1 diabetes Type 1 diabetes in children Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes in children Show more related content.

News from Mayo Clinic Mayo study uses electronic health record data to assess metformin failure risk, optimize care Feb. CDT The importance of diagnosing, treating diabetes in the Hispanic population in the US Sept. CDT Mayo Clinic Minute: Managing Type 2 diabetes Sept.

Learn more about this top honor. A1C test About. Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press.

Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Incontinence The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press The Essential Diabetes Book Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book.

Show the heart some love! Give Today. Help us advance cardiovascular medicine. Find a doctor. Explore careers.

Sign up for free e-newsletters. About Mayo Clinic. About this Site. Contact Us. Health Information Policy. Media Requests. News Network. Price Transparency. The amount of HbA1c formed is directly related to the average concentration of glucose in your bloodstream.

Red blood cells live for 2—3 months, and because of this, the amount of HbA1c in your blood reflects the average level of glucose in your blood during the last months.

If your diabetes is not well controlled, your blood glucose levels will be high causing higher HbA1c levels. The test for HbA1c shows how well your diabetes has been controlled over the last months.

Even though you may have some very high or very low blood glucose values, HbA1c will give a picture of the average level of glucose in your blood over that time period. The result can help you and your doctor understand if the measures you are taking to control your diabetes are working.

In the past the test was only used to monitor blood glucose control in patients with known diabetes. Now the World Health Organisation WHO recommendsthat HbA1c can also be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes in people who were not previously known to have the condition.

There are certain situations in which HbA1c cannot be used to diagnose diabetes. An oral glucose tolerance test would be used as an alternative. The Department of Health recommends that everyone with diabetes has HbA1c measured at least twice a year.

HbA1c may be measured more frequently in those who have just been diagnosed with diabetes, in those whose blood glucose remains too high, or when a treatment plan changes.

The test can also be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Please speak to your healthcare professional about local guidelines that may be in place, as there maybe variations in local procedures.

If you have an uncommon type of haemoglobin , known as a haemoglobin variant for example thalassaemia or sickle cell disease , accurate results will depend on the method used to measure HbA1c. If you have haemolytic anaemia or heavy bleeding, your test results may be falsely low.

If you are iron deficient, this may raise your HbA1c result. HbA1c is not used for diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy. HbA1c could be measured at home but this is rarely done, is expensive and should not be necessary if you are being monitored by your doctor.

Therefore, results generated by different laboratories are traceable to this global standard, and comparable. On This Site Tests: Glucose , Microalbumin Conditions: Diabetes Elsewhere On The Web ACB, Analyte Monographs AMALC : HbA1c World Health Organisation: Use of Glycated Haemoglobin HbA1c in the Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes UK NHS: Diabetes Diabetes.

uk: HbA1C Test for Diabetes. HbA1c Test. Send Us Your Feedback. Choose Topic At a Glance What is being tested? Common Questions Related Content Ask a Laboratory Scientist.

Also Known As. Formal Name. This article was last reviewed on 30 March This article was last modified on 8 January At a Glance. Why Get Tested? When To Get Tested? When first diagnosed with diabetes and then at least twice a year.

Prediabetes community support myDr HbAc levels levelss, HbAc levels and Investigations. The Lefels test is a useful, simple and inexpensive blood test that can be used Strengthening your immune defenses diagnose diabetes and also HbA monitor blood glucose control in people with known diabetes. HbA1c stands for glycated haemoglobin, or glycosylated haemoglobin. An HbA1c blood test can give an indication of whether blood glucose levels have been higher than normal over the last few months, by looking at how much sugar glucose is bound in your red blood cells. Your red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin Hb which carries oxygen. Sugar glucose in your bloodstream can combine with the haemoglobin in red blood cells, forming glycated haemoglobin.