Perspective on the HbA1c test
"Only one-half of diabetic patients surveyed at our tertiary
retna center, almost all of whom were classified as having some
level of diabetic retinopathy and the majority of whom were receiving
regular eye care, understood the concept of HbA1c" (reference
AJO, May, 2006, p.951-2).
This is really pretty sad. Hopefully all O.D.'s will use the
following information to help educate all your patients with
diabetes.
What is a Diabetes A1C Test? (patient handout)
During the course of diabetes care, most patients have a special
blood test done every three or four months. It is called
the hemoglobin A1C test. The major benefit of the A1C test
is that it provides a measure of how your blood glucose levels
have averaged over the past two to three months, and so gives
more of a “big picture” of your overall blood sugar control.
The daily blood glucose checks that you do yourself gives
you a measure of your blood glucose level at that moment,
but daily blood glucose levels can fluctuate quite a bit.
The value of the A1C test is that it provides an excellent
measure of how your blood glucose levels have been over the
past two or three months. The A1C test is extremely important
for monitoring how well your diabetes is controlled.
The good news is, this is a very simple test to understand.
It is reported as a small number, and should be below “7.”
For most people with diabetes, the A1C should be between “6”
and “7;” this would indicate good, consistent control. If
your A1C number is lower than “6,” that is even better, but
any reading below “7” is generally considered acceptable.
Many times, health care providers are too busy and/or patients
simply don’t ask about their blood work. The purpose of this
handout is to encourage you to take a more active role in your
diabetes care. One very important factor in your diabetes
care is for you to always ask you doctor, nurse, or diabetic
counselor to inform you of your A1C number. They will be glad
to share this important information with you.
Knowing your A1C number will enable you to know how your overall
diabetic control is. Be sure to ask any member of your diabetes
care team any questions that you may have about your care.
For more detailed information on the A1C test, go to: www.A1CNOW.com,
or www.diabetes.org (or call 1-800-342-2383).
A final note: the retina within the eye is the only place
in the body where blood vessels can easily be examined. Since
diabetes primarily affects the blood vessels, it is very important
to have a dilated eye examination every year. This is even
more important if your A1C readings tend to be higher than
“7.”
PDF File - If you do not have at least the FREE version of
Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you will need to install
the "Free Reader" onto your system, then go back
and click on the form you want. If you need Acrobat Reader,
just click on the button and follow the instructions for
your particular computer. You will need only the "Reader" to
view and print the reports.
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