According to the findings, the A1C test provides information regarding the individual’s average level of blood glucose. The A1C is also known as the hemoglobin A1C. The test is the initial check used for diabetes research as well as diabetes management. This A1C analysis is predicated on the glucose attachment to hemoglobin, and the protein in RBC that carries oxygen around the body. The RBCs in the body are continuously forming and disappearing, but usually, they live for around three months. Therefore, the A1C test mirrors the average of individual’s level of blood glucose in the last three months. The higher the percentage, the higher the level of blood glucose of individual has been. Reasonable level of A1C is below 5.7% (NIH, 2014).
Currently, the AIC lab test has improved. Previously, the A1C was not commended for diagnosis of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes because numerous kinds of A1C tests could give different results. The accurateness has been enhanced by the Nationwide Glycohemoglobin Standardization Plan that has established principles for the A1C tests (Kramer, Araneta & Barrett-Connor, 2010). The NGSP helps to attest that A1C producer’s tests offer tests which are uniform with the ones used in significant diabetes research. According to the study the present A1C objectives for control blood glucose that can decrease the incidence of diabetes problems like blood vessel illness and blindness (NIH, 2014).
It is possible that A1C results and the test can be undependable for detecting or diagnosing diabetes in human beings with specific conditions which are renowned to interfere with the outcomes. Obstruction ought to be assumed when A1C findings appear to be remarkably dissimilar from blood glucose test results (Herman et al., 2007). Persons living in Southeast Asia, Mediterranean, People of African or individual with family members with thalassemia and sickle cell anemia are at a danger of being suffering from such illness (NIH, 2014). Persons in this category are likely to have less universal kind of hemoglobin, renown as hemoglobin variants that influence the tests of A1C. Many individuals that have hemoglobin variation lack symptoms and might not distinguish or determine that they carry that hemoglobin.
Individuals that get false tests from one category of A1C might require a different category of A1C test for assessing their average level of glucose. NGSP offers specific information for the physicians regarding the type of A1C test that is useful for particular hemoglobin variation (NIH, 2014). The doctors and nurses can use the A1C to check the levels of glucose in persons with type 2 or type 1. The testing is not applicable to review gestational diabetes.
The U.S. Diabetes Union commends that persons diagnosed with diabetes that is meeting goals of treatment and has steady levels of blood glucose have to test their A1C test 2 times in a year. The doctors and nurses might do the A1C testing as many times as possible but limited to 4 times a year till the level glucose attain suggested levels (NIH, 2014). Notably, the A1C testing assists the nurses and doctors to regulate and modify medication to decrease the risk of constant diabetes problems. Researchers have discovered a considerable decrease in long-term problems with the reducing the levels of A1C.
If A1C testing is used in checking levels of blood glucose in an individual having diabetes, the samples of blood could be examined in the office of the nurses or doctors using a POC examination to provide instant results (Cowie et al., 2010). Nevertheless, POC testing is much less dependable in this case they do not give accurate results from many lab tests.
Individuals shall have different A1C target depending on their history of diabetes as well as their overall health. Persons must discuss their goal of A1C with their nurses and doctors to know how they can go about the illness. Researchers have indicated that persons who have diabetes can decrease the diabetes risks problems by ensuring that their level of A1C is below 7%.
Ensuring appropriate control of blood glucose helps to benefit people with new diabetes for several coming years. Nevertheless, the level of A1C that is secure for one individual might not be safe for the other. For instance, maintaining the level of A1C below 7% might not be protected if it causes complications with low blood glucose also known as hypoglycemia (NIH, 2014). Also, an A1C control between 7 to 8% or less control of blood glucose, or high might be useful for persons with severe hypoglycemia, limited life-expectancy, difficult diabetes problems like nerve complications, persistent kidney illness, or cardiovascular illness as well as very old diabetes and complexity reaching a lower goal.
Significant variations in an individual’s level of glucose in the last one month will appear in their A1C testing outcome. However, the A1C does not illustrate abrupt, temporary decreases or increases in levels of glucose. Although the A1C signifies a lasting average, levels of blood glucose within previous thirty days have a more significant effect on the readings of A1C as compared to those in past months.
- Cowie, C. C., Rust, K. F., Byrd-Holt, D. D., Gregg, E. W., Ford, E. S., Geiss, L. S., … & Fradkin, J. E. (2010). Prevalence of diabetes and high risk for diabetes using A1C criteria in the US population in 1988–2006. Diabetes care, 33(3), 562-568.
- Herman, W. H., Ma, Y., Uwaifo, G., Haffner, S., Kahn, S. E., Horton, E. S., … & Barrett-Connor, E. (2007). Differences in A1C by race and ethnicity among patients with impaired glucose tolerance in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Diabetes care, 30(10), 2453-2457.
- Kramer, C. K., Araneta, M. R. G., & Barrett-Connor, E. (2010). A1C and diabetes diagnosis: the Rancho Bernardo Study. Diabetes care, 33(1), 101-103.
- NIH. (2014, September). The A1C Test & Diabetes. Retrieved from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis/a1c-test