Understanding Hemoglobin A1c Test
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Thousands of people are diagnosed daily with the disease of diabetes, and some may find it necessary to monitor their blood sugar levels with hemoglobin A1c blood testing methods. In fact, diabetes has been recognized as one of the largest growing diseases in the world. With millions of people at risk, the need for regulating blood sugar levels is at an unprecedented level. Fortunately, there are many options of testing kits on the market. Traditionally, the hemoglobin A1C test is a laboratory method administered by a healthcare provider to measure the A1c level in an individual’s body (also known as HbA1c). Glycated hemoglobin is used to measure the plasma glucose concentration over extended amounts of time, normally within the lifespan of a red blood cell (120 days).
Glycated hemoglobin is measured as a percentage. Hemoglobin is a pigment within the red blood cell that carries oxygen and protein. Since the lifespan of the red blood cell is about three months, that is what the hemoglobin a1c test measures. Higher levels of blood glucose for a prolonged period are known to be related to diabetes neuropathy.
The American Diabetes Association has recommended that less than seven percent is necessary to maintain a healthy level. Anything greater can pose health risks related to diabetes. Other medical organizations have listed varying levels, but they are closely related to this number (.5% variance). A normal range of testing found in healthy individuals is 4-6%.
Prevention of high levels of glycated hemoglobin begins with lifestyle. The body needs a balance of rest and exercise on a daily basis to allow the process of the body to function on a normal basis. Diet is a large contributor as well. A proper diet, low carbohydrates (as in fried foods, sugar and starch), will also help prevent a high level of glycated hemoglobin.
If the problem is identified as already being present, that does not mean that the symptoms are guaranteed to manifest. For example, if an individual’s glycated hemoglobin level results are ten percent, then the risk is high if the level remains that way for prolonged periods of time. But, if there is a concerted effort to reduce the level, then it will change the outcome. For every percentage point that the level is reduced, it reduces the risk of complications by ten percent.
The hemoglobin A1c test has been a method of monitoring for patients with diabetes since it was first introduced in 1976 (though studies of separating hemoglobin A1c date back to as far as 1958). It is clearly an indicator that can reveal a patient’s progress with great accuracy, which means that it will continue to be a defining test for the medical field in the aspects of diabetes. Though there are many problems that are related to diabetes, the progress of many other complications, if left untreated, may compound these problems even worse. The use of a home monitoring kit to measure blood glucose can enhance the results of the A1c test and create more positive results when the test is given. With diabetes, the more control of the issues that cause the disease, the better it can be combated.
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January 17 2010 06:44 am | Health and Fitness
