What Is The HbA1c That Doctors Measure In Type 2 Diabetes? Your Life Depends On It

When people first receive a diagnosis of Diabetes 2

, they enter a whole new world of medical terms and testing. One of the primary tests they will undergo in the doctor's office is the one for HbA1c. What exactly is this oddly named test? HbA1c tests for the current levels of glycated hemoglobin in your blood. This type of hemoglobin forms when blood glucose attaches to hemoglobin. Determining this form of hemoglobin yields an accurate profile of how much glucose is in the blood. A normal HbA1c test result will come back with 6% or less of glycated hemoglobin. Borderline results land between 6-7%. If your results are over 7%, your diabetes may not be under control.

How do doctors perform the test on those with type 2 diabetes? For adults, the doctor will order blood drawn from a vein. In small children, the doctor may use a lancet to prick the skin and then collect the blood in a pipette. The blood goes off to the lab where they measure the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the sample. The results go back to the doctor for analysis. That is when you get the results. If yourglucose levels are out of range, your doctor may require other testing. He may also prescribe some medications or changes in lifestyle to counteract the readings.

Testing for HbA1c is not for every day monitoring of blood glucose levels. The amount of HbA1c in the blood does not react to the everyday ups and downs. It does not show daily spikes or drops inglucose . Some people show elevated amounts of HbA1c if they have conditions such as kidney failure, alcohol abuse, or hypertriglyceridemia. Some people show decreased amounts of HbA1c if they have acute or chronic blood loss, thalessemia, or sickle cell disease. Those with type 2 Diabetes use this test to look at glucose levels over the past weeks or months.

HbA1c makes a good companion in monitoring your progress in getting your type 2 diabetes under control. Since it measures the long term levels of glucose in the blood, periodic testing will show if you have your glucose under control or not. For best results, getting it down below 6% is the best. Keeping it under 7% will help delay the onset of severe complications. Taking this reading will become routine in those with diabetes. It can be either a hindrance or a guidepost.

What Is The HbA1c That Doctors Measure In Type 2 Diabetes? Your Life Depends On It

By: Michael Hutch

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