The HbA1C test is a blood test that is often used in screening for diabetics to check and examine blood glucose levels. Unlike a finger prick glucose meter or a blood glucose test, which provide information about instantaneous blood glucose, the HbA1C test provides information about the average blood glucose level at a specific time in the past. It is an important part of treatment and follow-up, especially in people with diabetes.
HbA1C is known as the glycosylated hemoglobin test, which provides a 2-3 month average of blood sugar levels. A high level of glycosylated hemoglobin in the blood is an important indication that the blood sugar level has become too high over a long period of time. In people with well-controlled diabetes, it may be sufficient to perform an HbA1C test once a year, but in people with high blood glucose levels or those whose blood glucose levels are not regulated, the test may be repeated at more frequent intervals such as 3 or 6 months. Even a simple excess in the HbA1C level indicates the development of significant complications. Therefore, the test should be performed regularly without interruption and the result should be carefully examined by a doctor.
How Does the HbA1C Test Work?
Hemoglobins are the cells that give the blood its red color. In people with high blood sugar, they combine with glucose and turn into glycosylated hemoglobins. The reason for this combination is that the body does not use the glucose in the blood properly and cannot transport it to the structures. The rate of glucose combining with protein hemoglobins is directly related to the current rate of blood sugar. The hemoglobins produced in the body have an average survival time of 2-3 months. Therefore, by measuring the HbA1C level in the blood, the average value of blood glucose levels over a period of 2-3 months can be found. Because it reflects the average blood glucose level over a specific period of time, HbA1C is much more accurate than other blood glucose screenings. In healthy people without diabetes, about 5% of the hemoglobin in the blood is glycosylated. If this ratio is slightly higher as a result of the Hemoglobin A1C test, it may indicate prediabetes, and if it increases even more, it may indicate diabetes.
In Which Ranges Should HbA1C Values Be?
In healthy people who do not have diabetes, the blood HbA1C level is expected to be between 4.7% and 5.6%. If the hemoglobin A1C level is detected at a level between 5.7% and 6.4%, there is a possibility of hidden diabetes, which is also generally called prediabetes. At this point, the fall and rise in blood sugar may be at a level that cannot be detected by fasting blood glucose measurement or finger prick sugar measurement. In people who will be called diabetics, the HbA1C level is more than 6.5%.
Chronic conditions or certain medications affect the result of the HbA1C test. Conditions such as kidney failure, liver diseases or anemia, which directly affect the hemoglobin value in the blood, may cause the test result to be inaccurate. The same can be said for some medications that are being used. Therefore, before the test is applied, it should be known whether the sick people have any different chronic diseases and the medications they use.
How to Lower HbA1C?
The only way to lower this level is to regulate blood sugar. Therefore, first of all, the planning of treatment in people with diabetes should be clearly determined by the specialist, the medications being used or the patient should be directed to nutritionists in order to make a proper nutrition plan. Diabetes education should be provided in detail by multidisciplinary teams of specialists, nurses and dieticians, and patients should be trained on carbohydrate counting.
In people with type 2 diabetes, after the diagnosis of the disease and blood glucose regulation, the blood glucose rate of the patient is within normal limits before taking a certain medication is called the remission phase. This situation can be observed. In this process, patients should be under constant control in terms of blood glucose levels, and they should be provided with the necessary training on blood glucose measurement applications at home.
HbA1c Results
The result of the HbA1c test is reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage of the HbA1c test, the greater the danger of developing diabetes and diabetes complications. However, if the HbA1c test result is 6, 5% or more, you may have diabetes.