Hba1c test what is it

You should get the results quickly. This lets your healthcare team know if they need to change your treatment or medication to manage your levels better.

Your GP or diabetes team will work with you to decide what target HbA1c is best for you. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet and getting regular exercise will help get your HbA1c levels under control. Read our cookies policy to find out more about cookies and how we use them.

We hope this gives you a little more insight into one of the tests you take regularly. If you have questions about your HbA1c test or any other diabetes-related test, call our Infoline on Join our community of over 45, people living with diabetes. Logging into the Member Portal for the first time? Select 'Forgot your password' and enter your email address and we will send you a password reset link for the member portal.

Forgot your password? Lost your password? Please enter your email address. You will receive mail with link to set new password. Home Blog Why HbA1c testing? Why HbA1c testing? Monday, 1 April How does the HbA1c test work? I already do regular blood glucose testing at home, why do I need to do an HbA1c test also? Why does my HbA1c level matter?

HbA1c may be measured more frequently in those who have just been diagnosed with diabetes, in those whose blood glucose remains too high, or when a treatment plan changes.

The test can also be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. Please speak to your healthcare professional about local guidelines that may be in place, as there maybe variations in local procedures.

If you have an uncommon type of haemoglobin , known as a haemoglobin variant for example thalassaemia or sickle cell disease , accurate results will depend on the method used to measure HbA1c. If you have haemolytic anaemia or heavy bleeding, your test results may be falsely low. If you are iron deficient, this may raise your HbA1c result. HbA1c is not used for diagnosis of diabetes during pregnancy.

HbA1c could be measured at home but this is rarely done, is expensive and should not be necessary if you are being monitored by your doctor. Therefore, results generated by different laboratories are traceable to this global standard, and comparable. HbA1c Test. Send Us Your Feedback. Choose Topic At a Glance What is being tested? Also Known As. Formal Name. This article was last reviewed on 30 March This article was last modified on 8 January Within the 5.

Get your A1C tested in addition to—not instead of—regular blood sugar self-testing if you have diabetes. Let your doctor know if any of these factors apply to you, and ask if you need additional tests to find out. However, your personal goal will depend on many things such as your age and any other medical conditions. Work with your doctor to set your own individual A1C goal. People who are older, have severe lows, or have other serious health problems may have a higher goal.

Two people can have the same A1C, one with steady blood sugar levels and the other with high and low swings.

Keep track and share the results with your doctor so you can make changes to your treatment plan if needed. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.