The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test, also known as the A1C test, glycated hemoglobin test, HbA1C, Hgba1c, or Hgb a1c, is often part of a comprehensive metabolic panel. It helps in measuring the amount of glucose, or blood sugar, there in your blood during the previous three months. This test can detect diabetes or monitor how effectively it is being managed. It is a marker for long-term glucose management.
The component of a red blood cell that transports oxygen to the cells is called hemoglobin. The A1C test is based on the binding of glucose to hemoglobin in your blood cells.
The amount of glucose that binds to hemoglobin increases with blood glucose levels. The A1C test calculates your average blood glucose levels over the previous three months by measuring how much of your hemoglobin is bound with glucose.
The results of the A1C test are expressed as a percentage. Your blood glucose levels have been greater if the percentage is higher. A normal A1C is less than 5.7%. Let’s learn more about this test in the following article and how this test can help you to monitor and manage your diabetes.
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What is the Purpose of the HbA1c Test?
This test is advised for the following purposes:- Screening for prediabetes and diabetes: If you are obese, overweight, at high risk for diabetes, and aged above 40, your doctor might want to look for other health issues before you get symptoms. The test can be used to screen for diabetes, but it might be necessary to repeat it or use another kind of test to confirm the results.
- Diagnosing prediabetes and diabetes: It is done to determine the cause behind the emerging health issues in someone. If you exhibit symptoms or indications of diabetes, your doctor may prescribe hemoglobin A1c and additional testing. Excessive thirst, frequent urination, impaired vision, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands and feet, and intense exhaustion are other symptoms.
- Monitoring diabetes: Your doctor recommends that you do this testing at least twice a year for monitoring purposes if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. This enables your doctor to modify your treatment plan and reduce your risk by evaluating how effectively your blood glucose has been managed in the months between sessions. This will help in preventing complications and worsening of diabetes.
What Does the HbA1c Test Measure?
The hemoglobin A1c test determines the proportion of hemoglobin A attached to glucose in your blood. Glucose is the sugar that your body uses as its major source of energy. Your body produces or gets glucose from the foods you eat. Glucose enters your circulation and is absorbed by your body's cells via a hormone known as insulin.If your body is unable to produce enough insulin, or if your cells have issues in picking up insulin, your blood glucose level might increase to hazardous levels. This can progress to diabetes, a dangerous illness that can harm your organs if not managed properly.
Glucose can bind to hemoglobin in the blood, forming hemoglobin A1c. Hemoglobin is the protein present in red blood cells that transports oxygen. Hemoglobin A1c is measured as the proportion of hemoglobin A linked to glucose relative to the total quantity of hemoglobin A in the blood.
More glucose can bind to hemoglobin when blood glucose levels are higher. Your blood glucose levels over the three months before have also been too high if your hemoglobin A1c % is too high. This is because the lifespan of red blood cells is 90 days (3 months).
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When Should the HbA1c Test Be Done?
Every adult 45 years of age and over, as well as those under 45 who are overweight and have risk factors for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, should have a baseline A1c test, according to the CDC. Repeat the test every three years if your results are normal. Repeat the test as frequently as your doctor advises, which is often every one to two years, if your findings indicate that you have prediabetes.An A1c test should be performed at least once a year if you have diabetes and more frequently if you have coexisting medical issues or if your medications have been modified. The frequency of your testing must be determined by your doctor.
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How to Interpret the HbA1c Test Results?
For the detection of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, doctors can advise the A1C test either alone or in conjunction with other diabetes assays. This test can be performed at any time of day because you are not required to fast before the test.You should repeat this test on a separate day or get another diabetes test done to confirm the diagnosis if the result indicates that you have diabetes or prediabetes but you do not have any symptoms.
| Diagnosis | A1C Level |
| Normal | below 5.7 percent |
| Prediabetes | 5.7 to 6.4 percent |
| Diabetes | 6.5 percent or above |
What is the Cost of the HbA1c Test?
The city, healthcare provider, and laboratory facilities all affect the cost of the HbA1c test. The test normally costs between ₹300 and ₹800 in India. This test is often covered by insurance companies, particularly for people with diabetes or those getting regular checkups.Read Also: Early Warning Signs of Diabetes You Shouldn’t Ignore
Conclusion
Most patients with diabetes should have an HbA1c goal of less than 6.5% (48 mmol/mol). Your doctor may modify your therapy or recommend more frequent blood sugar testing if your HbA1c result is greater than your goal. Discuss your results and their implications with your doctor. The best diabetologists at Asian Heart Institute are here to help you. For expert care, book your consultation now!FAQs
Q1: What is the normal range of the HbA1c test?A: Your HbA1c test values less than 5.7% are considered normal.
Q2: What Do Abnormal HbA1c Test Values Indicate?
A: Values of the HbA1c test above 5.7% and below 6.4% indicate prediabetes. Any value above 6.4% indicates diabetes.
Q3: Is the hemoglobin A1c test the right test to diagnose gestational diabetes?
A: No. The hemoglobin A1c test is not the right test to diagnose gestational diabetes, which is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
