I am a 49 year old diabetic. Can you tell me what is HbA1c and how often should I have it measured?

I am a 49 year old diabetic. Can you tell me what is HbA1c and how often should I have it measured?

All diabetics should routinely get their blood glucose levels measured. The blood sugars give an idea how well the glucose is controlled on a day to day basis. However, all diabetics should also have their HBA1c measured once in a while.

HbA1c is simply hemoglobin which has been attached to glucose molecules. Hemoglobin is found in red blood cells and these cells have a life span of about 8-12 weeks. Normally if the blood glucose levels are normal or well controlled, the sugar does not bind to hemoglobin. However, if the sugars have been poorly controlled and are high, they get attached to the hemoglobin and this is known as glycation of the hemoglobin molecule.

So measuring HbA1c gives an idea how well the glucose levels have been over the long term. The higher the glucose levels, the higher will the level of HbA1c be. Some patients may come to see their physician and tell them that their sugars have been great. Well, by measuring the HbA1c the physician can immediately tell how well your  glucose levels have been over the last 3-4 months.

The test is simple to perform, requires some blood and results are usually available within an hour. The HbA1c is ideally done 2-3 times a year. Anything lower than 7 is great.