A1C test analyses blood sugar levels for the past 2-3 months. It is used for diagnosing type 1 and type 2 diabetes and also to check blood sugar levels on a continuous basis. Lower A1C levels indicate good management of diabetes. A high A1C level can increase a person’s risk of diabetes complications.
Frequency of tests
The A1C test is first used to diagnose diabetes. Later, a doctor may recommend new tests to manage diabetes. Some instances include of these include the following:
The numbers
The A1C test is effective because it analyzes hemoglobin cells to check blood sugar levels. The typical lifespan of a red blood cell is three months. So, even if the current blood sugar is normal, if it was higher or lower in the past three months, the A1C test can reveal this. If a person has diabetes, it is necessary for the person to achieve lower A1C levels. The different A1C levels indicate how far has diabetes progressed:
A doctor can determine normal levels of A1C for each person with diabetes. A lower A1C level for one person may not be ideal for another person with diabetes.
A1C for diabetes management
If yA1C levels are high, it can indicate poor management of blood sugar levels. A doctor may recommend some steps to achieve lower A1C levels. The following steps can be followed to lower A1C levels: