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Hemoglobin A1C
You are Here: Life with Diabetes Hemoglobin A1C
Hemoglobin A1C is a measurement of blood glucose levels reflecting the average blood glucose for the last 60-90 days. The hemoglobin A1C test is an important part of measuring the success of your diabetes treatment plan. This test will be performed at your doctor's office vs. home testing with a blood glucose monitor.
Hemoglobin A1C VS. Daily Testing
One of the most common questions we get at "life with diabetes" is "if I am testing daily with a blood glucose monitor, why does my doctor need to perform a hemoglobin A1C test?" The answer is pretty simple. Think of the testing you are doing at home as a snap shot of how your diet, exercise, and medications are working that day. The daily results allow you to adjust your sugar intake and diet based on that particular day. The hemoglobin A1C test allows your doctor to monitor how your diabetes treatment is doing overall. This test provides your doctor a much more global picture of your diabetes treatment regimen.
The hemoglobin A1C test is usually performed four times per year if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and taking insulin. If you have type 2 diabetes and are not taking insulin it is performed twice a year.
Diabetic Diet and Hemoglobin A1C
How can you positively affect your Hemoglobin A1C score? This is another common question we receive. As you know, a big part of managing your diabetes is diet. A proper diabetic diet and exercise program cannot only help you reach your body weight goals, but have a positive impact in lowering your A1C score. There is evidence that you can lower your score up to 1% by carefully monitoring your diet and participating in an exercise program. Remember; always follow your doctor's recommended diet and exercise advice.
At "life with diabetes" we have taken the time to research the many resources available to diabetics. We have carefully chosen a few select partners to work with to bring you the best information and most cost effective access to the supplies you need. Information on diet, exercise and managing your sugars will play an important role in helping you lower your hemoglobin A1C score.