Hba1c Test For Diabetes Patients

By Author: Suborna Fermi
Total Articles: 28
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What is Hemoglobin?

The Hba1c test stands for hemoglobin A1c test, which evaluates the quantity of blood sugar or glucose bound with hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in the red blood cells, which delivers oxygen and carbon dioxide to our different body parts.

What is a Hba1c test?

The hemoglobin A1c test is also identified as a glycated hemoglobin test and glycohemoglobin. This test aids in assessing the average amount of hemoglobin bound blood glucose in your bloodstream. As the red blood cells live around three months, the test gives you an average blood glucose level of the past 3 months.

This test is highly recommended to the diabetic patients. Because by measuring the blood glucose level it can help you determine whether you are at high risk of diabetes, and whether you are managing your blood sugar level efficiently.

When is the Hba1c test used?

The hba1c test cost ...
... is generally quite low and doctors usually suggest the test to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes (the stage where your blood glucose level shows risk of developing diabetes in the future). Additionally, this test is also used for diabteic patients to understand whether their blood sugar level is in control or not.

When should you go for the hba1c test?

As preferred by the CDC (Central for Disease Control), every adult over the age of 45 years should get tested for diabetes and prediabetes. No matter if your test result is normal, you should get a test every three years.

If your test results show you have prediabetes, then you have to test in between every 1 or 2 years. In this situation you should consult with a doctor to understand how you can reduce your hemoglobin a1c level.

Typically, your healthcare provider will suggest this test if you are having symptoms of diabetes. Which includes:

You may feel frequent urge to pee
You will extreme tiredness
Your thirst will increase
You might unintentionally lose weight
Your appetite will increase
You might experience blurry vision
You might feel a tingling sensation in the hands and feet
Your wound healing ability will get slow
You will be more prone to infections

How should you be prepared before the test?

You are not required to do fasting or any other test preparation before going for the test. Hoevger, if your doctor had prescribed additional tests then you might need to prepare for those tests.

What exactly happens during a Hba1c test?

Typically a lab practitioner will inject a little thin needle into a vein in your hand to collect the blood sample. The blood sample will be collected in a lab provided testing tube. And then the practitioner will send it to the laboratory for testing.

The whole procedure will take hardly 5 to 10 minutes. It is also recommended to wear loose fitted clothes, which can be easier for the technician to draw the blood.

When would you get your test result?

The hba1c test price is extremely inexpensive. Usually you will get your test results within a 1 to 2 business days, which actually depends on the lab you are choosing.

Is there any risk of taking the test?

You might feel slight tingling and pain when the needle will be inserted and the place might get bruised as well. But all the pain and bruising typically go away within a day or two. Apart from this, there is no risk of going for the test.

What is the meaning of the result?

The reference range of the test results may vary depending on the laboratory. Usually, the test results come in percentages. The reference range of Hba1c level is:

The normal level of a1c is below 5.7%.
A1c level within the range of 5.7 to 6.4% is considered as prediabetes.
A1c level higher than 6.4% will be considered as diabetes.

However, there are many aspects which can affect the hemoglobin A1c test results including:

Kidney failure
Liver disease
Acute anemia
Sickle sick anemia
Thalassemia
Extreme blood loss
Early or late pregnancy
Certain medicines

Hence, it is important to consult with your doctor to completely understand your test results. Your doctor might give you further tests to confirm a diagnosis of a disease.

One thing you should keep in mind is that this test can help you diagnose diabetes and prediabetes, but this test is used to diagnose gestational diabetes. However, if you got an abnormal test result then you should consult with a doctor to interpret what you should do in time ahead.

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