What does A1c indicate?
HbA1c
Red blood cells have a protein called hemoglobin; this carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. This hemoglobin protein tends to combine with glucose. This is called glycated hemoglobin. The higher the blood sugar, the more the glycated hemoglobin formed. Once formed, the glycated hemoglobin remains unchanged for the duration of the red blood cells’ life span, roughly 120 days. So, measuring the hemoglobin A1c or the A1c indicates the average blood sugar during the last 120 days. You do not need to fast before this blood is drawn. This blood test is generally monitored every three to six months by your doctor to evaluate average glycemic control.
After discussing with your doctor, you need to find out what your A1c goal is. This will vary depending on several factors such as age, risk of hypoglycemia, other medical conditions. By comparing the hemoglobin A1c and the blood glucose readings from the Glucometer or continuous glucose monitor, one can judge how well glucose control is. For example, the A1c may look satisfactory, but blood sugars may be fluctuating with some serious hypoglycemic issues.
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