HbA1C TEST FOR DIABETES

The disease diabetes is so much common now a days. Its prevalence is increasing day by day. There are various form of drugs are available to treat diabetes that include oral drugs and insulin. Insulin is given just beneath the skin which is called in medical term sub- cutaneous. It can be given by patient after proper training is been given. Now, what ever you are taking to control you diabetes, oral drugs or insulin, it is very important to know for you and your physician that how good was your glycemic control in past weeks or months. Isn't it?

Hba1c is the choice of test

So patients having diabetes including both type one and type 2, are very well known about fasting blood sugar and two hours after breakfast blood sugar test. But these test doesn't give you any idea about how was your glycemic control over past weeks or month. So, what test your physician will advice you to do to know about your average glycemic control?

The name of this test is glycosylated haemoglobin. It is often written by physician as Hba1c. Sometime it is simply known as a1c.

Understanding of Hba1c or a1c

When glucose attach to haemoglobin in non enzymatic way it is called glycosylated haemoglobin. The process is called glycosylation. In patient with poor control of diabetes, the level of glycated haemoglobin is increased in relation to non glycosylated haemoglobin portion and this can be measured by the process chromatography.

How to interpret the result of HBa1c or A1c

If there is an increase of 1% in Hba1c measurement that is almost equivalent to 2 mmol/l increase in blood sugar level. Normal level of Hba1c or a1c is below 6%. If it is greater than 6.5%, that means diabetes is present. It should be kept below 7% to keep away from complication of diabetes.

Hope now you are very much clear about the Hba1c test and its critical role to measure your average glycemic control. If you have any question regarding this article please feel free to comment. I will try my best to answer you. Share the article with your friends and family.