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“… It knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!” Has Santa returned for a surprise visit? No, it’s your A1C and the information that it “knows” about your blood sugar control can make a real difference in your life. When you check your blood, your home glucose monitor gives you a snapshot of your blood sugar level at that particular moment. But it tells you little about your overall control. Are you running high while sleeping? Are you low at other times? The A1C test provides a true measure of your blood sugar control for the past 2-3 months. WHAT IS THE A1C? It a blood test that measures the amount of sugar that is attached to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells. When excess glucose enters these cells, the hemoglobin becomes “glycated,” or coated with sugar. Glycated (“sugar frosted”) hemoglobin remains in the blood stream for two to three months - the more glucose in your blood, the greater the amount of glycated hemoglobin, and the higher your A1C result. WHAT IS YOUR A1C GOAL? The American Diabetes Association suggests a goal of less than 7%. Other experts go even further and encourage a goal of 6.5% or below. To understand these results, compare them to their blood glucose equivalent. For example, an A1C of 7 percent is equivalent to an estimated average blood sugar range of about 150-170 mg/dl (for mmol/L, divide the mg/dl by 18) A1c level - Estimated equivalent average blood sugar range 4 - 60-80 5 - 90-110 6 - 120-135 7 - 150-170 8 - 180-205 9 - 210-240 10 - 250-275 11 - 280-310 12 - 320-345 13 - 350-375 Ref: The Secrets of Living and Loving with Diabetes (Surrey Books) Roger has type 2 diabetes and takes oral diabetes medication. His family accuses him of ignoring his condition. He exercises regularly and tries to eat right, but when he occasionally checks his blood, usually after lunch, it is around 200 mg/dl. Roger fears that his doctor will insist that he start taking insulin shots. But at today’s appointment, he receives a pleasant surprise: his A1C is under 7 percent. His overall over all control is not bad at all. His doctor explains that he is doing fine and he should keep doing…. Occasionally, an A1C value can be misleading. If your blood sugar levels are swinging to extremes throughout the day and night, your A1C result may average out to a deceptively good number. See how you feel. If your A1C is below 7%, yet you don’t feel well, check your blood sugar level at different times of the day to see if you are swinging. Share this information with your healthcare provider – it will help you both decide what changes to make. If you feel well and have an A1C that is below 7% or 6.5%, whatever you are doing is right for you. It is still important to pay attention to you blood pressure and cholesterol levels, but you can congratulate yourself on a job well done. Unlike Santa, if your A1C is out of range, you won’t get a lump of coal. On the contrary, you get a wealth of information that can help you take great care of yourself and THAT‘S a gift worth receiving!
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