Youre More Than Just A Number
Managing diabetes includes actively measuring and monitoring glucose levels. It involves collecting a lot of numbers. But none of these numbers truly tells the whole diabetes story.
In the past, diabetes care focused primarily on A1C as a measure of good diabetes management. And sometimes having good numbers was equated with being good in your life with diabetes.
But this singular focus also created some negative impacts. People who couldnt reach or keep up the ideal A1C level were often judged and stigmatized. They were labeled bad or noncompliant despite their best efforts.
As a result, some became too closely identified with their numbers. They felt good about themselves and their diabetes management only if they had good numbers. Faced with the impossible task of perfect glucose management, some became discouraged and lost motivation to actively manage their diabetes.
The American Diabetes Association s current Standards of Care call for individualized targets that take into account the persons stage of life, health history, social determinants of health, and personal health goals.
This more modern approach recognizes and validates what people living with diabetes realized long ago: Our numbers dont tell the whole story when it comes to how well were managing our diabetes.
Can Other Blood Glucose Tests Be Used To Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes And Prediabetes
Yes. Health care professionals also use the fasting plasma glucose test and the OGTT to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. For these blood glucose tests used to diagnose diabetes, you must fast at least 8 hours before you have your blood drawn. If you have symptoms of diabetes, your doctor may use the random plasma glucose test, which doesnt require fasting. In some cases, health care professionals use the A1C test to help confirm the results of another blood glucose test.
You Asked We Answered
In fact, we engineered and created! You kept giving us feedback about implementing an estimated A1c in-app. And we heard you! We wanted it, too!
And now, we’ve got it. Introducing estimated A1c for iOS and Android. One Drop will now calculate and display your estimated A1C based on your blood glucose readings.
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The Measurement Of A Normal Haemoglobin A1c Test
The chart alone is not enough to understand whether an individual has diabetes or not. But with the help of the A1c table, the doctor can identify diabetes by comparing the level with a particular range. The usual hemoglobin A1c level for an ordinary person is between 4% and 5.6%. In other words, the average blood sugar must not be higher than 7mmol/L or 126 mg/dL for an individual.
If the Haemoglobin A1c level is between 5.7% and 6.4%, it means there is a good chance of having diabetes in the future. It is called a Prediabetics stage. Prediabetics person is a wake-up call for a person. It means you are on the way to get diabetes soon. But it is yet to happen. Having Prediabetics means you have a chance to turn things around.
The A1c level from 5.7% to 6.4% indicates, your blood sugar level is higher than the level it should be. But, it is still not in the range of diabetes. You may call it the edge of getting diabetes. Prediabetics happens for a hormone called insulin. This hormone helps to control blood sugar in the human body. If your sugar level is between the Prediabetics stage, it means the hormone is not working even.
For a diabetic patient, the measurement of A1c blood sugar level is 6.5% or higher.
A1c Calculator For Average Blood Sugar Level
The HbA1c tool calculates your average blood glucose level in units. The glycated Hemoglobin A1C test shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. If youd like to know your average blood sugar level over that time frame, just enter your most recent HbA1c results into the A1c calculator below, then hit enter. Furthermore, you can calculate your A1c level simply by entering your average blood sugar level into that field, hit enter for your result. . So basically, when people ask Can I calculate my A1C at home?, the answer is yes. Reference the A1C chart with your result value. A helpful tool for diabetics with t1d or t2d diabetes!
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How Long Has The A1c Been Used In Diabetes
A1C was recognized as an effective way to measure glycemic control as far back as the late 1960s. But it wasnt until the late 1980s when the ADA began recognizing it, and then in the mid-1990s that the organization formally recommended adding A1C to a diabetes diagnosis.
The landmark Diabetes Control and Complications Trial published in 1993 followed a decade of research on the A1C, and it set the stage for this becoming the gold standard in diabetes care. DCCT demonstrated that a lower A1C generally means a lower risk of diabetes complications developing.
Follow-up research known as the
How Precise Is The A1c Test
When repeated, the A1C test result can be slightly higher or lower than the first measurement. This means, for example, an A1C reported as 6.8 percent on one test could be reported in a range from 6.4 to 7.2 percent on a repeat test from the same blood sample.3 In the past, this range was larger but new, stricter quality-control standards mean more precise A1C test results.
Health care professionals can visit www.ngsp.org to find information about the precision of the A1C test used by their lab.
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Can A1c Test Be Wrong
Yes. The A1C test can be false or wrong in some cases even if the methods used to calculate A1c were correct. For example. A1C levels in persons with blood diseases such as sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or hemolytic anemia, for example, maybe lower than anticipated due to the shorter lifespan of their red blood cells in these conditions. A1C values that are artificially high due to iron deficiency anemia, on the other hand, are associated with prolonged red blood cell longevity. Additional factors such as acute or chronic illnesses can have an impact on A1C levels. In order to ensure that any relevant circumstances that may affect test results are discussed with a healthcare provider before the test is performed,
People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian origin, for example, may have rare types of hemoglobin that cause falsely high or low hemoglobin levels to be detected. Certain kidney and liver illnesses might impair the turnover rate of red blood cells, resulting in incorrect A1C measurements. Finally, recent blood loss or transfusion will also have an impact on the outcomes of the test. In spite of this, the A1C test is still believed to be a valid indication of long-term glucose management in patients with diabetes. If you have any concerns about your test results, you should discuss them with your doctor.
What Is Hb A1c Test
The HbA1c test, or the glycated haemoglobin A1c test, is a blood test that can be taken at any time as you dont need to fast before taking the test. It indicates what your average blood glucose levels are over the past 3 months, by measuring the percentage of blood glucose that has attached to haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein found in red blood cells.
It is normal for all people to have some glucose attached to haemoglobin. In people with diabetes, the higher the blood glucose levels are, the more glucose you have attached to haemoglobin. A HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher, on two separate tests, can indicate that you have diabetes. Whereas a HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4% can indicate prediabetes. Levels below 5.7% are considered normal. In other words, higher A1c percentages indicate an increased risk of diabetes.
The HbA1c test should not be used alone to diagnose diabetes. It should be used in combination with other blood glucose tests.
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How Can I Lower My A1c
Your doctor will help you with a plan.
For people with type 2 diabetes, diet, exercise, as well as insulin and oral medications can all play a role in lowering your A1C.
Try not to think of those treatment options as a punishment. Rather, theyre a path to better diabetes management and overall healthier life.
All content on this website is for educational purposes only and does not replace the guidance of your healthcare practitioner. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new healthcare regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
An A1c test is a valuable tool to assess how your diabetes management plan is working. But if you are accustomed to seeing your blood sugar levels represented in mg/dL or mmol/L, A1c test results can be confusing. While an online A1c calculator can seem like a quick way to gain clarity, it isnt the most reliable choice.
Application To The Real World
The GMI provides a clue as to what your next A1C result might be, but dont be surprised if they arent a perfect match. The good news is that most people had results within 0.5 percentage points, meaning the two values should still be somewhat close. The GMI may actually be more reflective of true average glucose since there is not any lab interference. Many healthcare offices have been relying on GMI more during COVID-19 when its been challenging to get the lab test.
While A1C and GMI provide a measure of how your glucose management is working, keep in mind that both are just averages. Try focusing on your Time in Range, a metric you can compare day-to-day and week-to-week. If you can increase your TIR, especially focusing on a TIR of 70% or greater, your GMI and A1C are much more likely to also reach their targets. However, if you dont reach your A1C and GMI goals, please dont be disappointed. Its possible to lower A1C and GMI by having tons of hypoglycemia, but this is not good for short-term or long-term health outcomes. If you focus on that Time in Range, you are more likely to feel good and have great diabetes outcomes.
This article is part of a series on Time in Range. The diaTribe Foundation, in concert with the Time in Range Coalition, is committed to helping people with diabetes and their caregivers understand Time in Range to maximize patients’ health. Learn more about the Time in Range Coalition here.
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How Is The A1c Test Used After Diagnosis Of Diabetes
Your health care professional may use the A1C test to set your treatment goals, modify therapy, and monitor your diabetes management.
Experts recommend that people with diabetes have an A1C test at least twice a year.4 Health care professionals may check your A1C more often if you arent meeting your treatment goals.4
Understanding The Range Of A1c
Now that you have an estimate of your A1C, check if youâre at risk for diabetes by comparing your result to the tolerances used by both the ADA and CDC:
If your estimated range falls anywhere above 5.7%, get ahead of the risk early. Take control of your health and start monitoring your glucose more closely with a CGM.
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What Is Hemoglobin In Hba1c
Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that is responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body. The process of glycation occurs when glucose levels are elevated and sugar molecules bond to hemoglobin, resulting in anemia. Once a hemoglobin molecule has been glycated, it will remain in that state in the blood until the red blood cell that carried it is withdrawn from circulation. Given that a red blood cell has an average lifespan of 3 to 4 months, the A1C test is used to determine the status of blood glucose over the previous 3 to 4 months. The results of the A1C test are expressed as a percentage. You have a higher average blood sugar level if your percentage is higher than the national average. An A1C result of less than 5.7 percent is considered normal. You have diabetes if you have an A1C score of 6.5 percent or above on two different tests. A hemoglobin A1C score between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent indicates that you have prediabetes and are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Your doctor will work with you to make lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help lower your blood sugar levels if your A1C result is higher than the recommended range.
The majority of people with diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels at home with a finger-stick test and a portable glucose meter or continuous glucose monitoring systems such as Dexcom or libre.
How To Lower A1c
If your A1c test shows that your levels are too high, your doctor will tell you to lower it. Here are some useful tips on how to do that:
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Why Do I Need This A1c Thing
Having a personal A1c tracker at your fingertips can be motivating. While a true lab A1c is the most accurate, we can only get those every 3 months. And even that’s pushing it!
But with an A1c tracker, one that calculates and displays your estimated A1c daily, you’ll be more in-tune with how your current diabetes regimen is going. At One Drop, we are all about empowering ourselves. And this kind of information does exactly that.
Keep tabs on your own estimated A1c! Compare the number you’re seeing in your app to our A1c chart.
Are you currently in-range? Are you where you want to be on that chart? What could you be doing differently to get to where you want to be?
Then, when you go in to see your doctor the next time around, let us know the final results!
Im Discouraged About My Results
Dont be. My first test rang in at a whopping 13%. My next test was 10%. Both were dangerous, but I still gave myself a pat on the back for lowering my A1C. With gradual changes and tracking, youll find that each A1C test gets better and better.
If your number isnt getting better, and youre doing all you can, be honest with your doctor about what youre doing, and let them help you.
I hope this A1C calculator helps you understand a little more about your results.
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How To Calculate Your A1c Levels
Do you feel overwhelmed by the jargon and measurements involved in controlling your blood sugar? It can be challenging to keep track of everything, especially if youâre already preoccupied with a diabetes diagnosis. Still, itâs worth carving out a little more space in your memory for something as important as A1C.
If youâve recently taken a blood test or if youâve been discussing or treating diabetes with your doctor, youâve likely heard about A1C. Only a lab test can accurately measure A1C, and itâs best if a medical professional analyzes it. The results help provide an approximate value for how much glucose has been in your bloodstream on average for the past 2-3 months. Managing A1C effectively will keep you out of your doctorâs office longer, prevent the onset of diabetes and help bring you back from the brink of a diagnosis. In this article, weâll fill you in on what exactly A1C is and how you can keep an eye on it yourself between blood tests.
Estimated Average Blood Glucose Calculator
Now you have 24/7 access to your very own, personal A1c tracker right in the palm of your hand.
One Drop calculates a new A1c for you every day, based on the blood glucose readings you have in your app.
These readings can come from manual entries, One Drop Blood Glucose meter syncing entries, CGM entries whatever method you’re currently using to enter in your blood glucose data will work with the One Drop Premium App.
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Normal A1c Levels Chart For Non
According to American Diabetes Association latest guidelines 2017 and 2018,Hemoglobin A1c levels 3, 4, 5, and up to 5.7 is normal and tell that the person has no DM.Non-diabetes means your blood glucose test results are within the expected normal limits for healthy persons.The normal hemoglobin A1c means youre not diabetic or you are on the goal levels, I mean that:A1c 4.0% and A1c 5.0 means you werent diabetic and this value is the normal levels that all healthy persons must have.But A1c 5.7% means you are on the last step before prediabetes stage.
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Hba1c Levels And Targets
But everyones different. So your healthcare team may give you an individual target level that takes into account your current level and when your next test is. So you can bring it down in stages and isnt a sudden big drop.
And were not saying its easy to get to and stay at this level. We know its difficult, and were here to give you advice and information to help.
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