A1c Now 4 Test Kit P/N 3070

What is HbA1c or A1C?

The term HbA1c refers to glycated hemoglobin. It develops when hemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming ‘glycated.' By measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), clinicians are able to get an overall picture of what our average blood sugar levels have been over a period of 2 to 3 months. For people with diabetes this is important as the higher the HbA1c, the greater the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. HbA1c is also referred to as hemoglobin A1C or simply A1C.

How often should A1C levels be tested?

The answer is that people with diabetes should talk to their physician about how often they should test their A1c. 

The Mayo Clinic recommends on its website that A1C testing varies dependent on the type of diabetes the person has, the treatment plan and how well the person with diabetes is managing their blood sugar. For example, the A1C test may be recommended:

• Twice a year if the patient has type 2 diabetes, doesn't use insulin, and the blood sugar level is consistently within target range
• Three to four times a year if the patient has type 1 diabetes
• Four times a year if the patient has type 2 diabetes, uses insulin to manage diabetes