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Importance of A1c

A hemoglobin A1c test, or A1c for short, indicates a person's average blood sugar level for the past 120 days and is currently the most effective way to know if a diabetic's blood sugar levels are under good control.

  1. History

    • The A1c blood test has been used to monitor diabetics' blood glucose control since 1976, when a research study by RJ Koenig and his colleagues revealed a direct correlation between average blood sugar level from the previous months and A1c test results.

    Significance

    • The higher a person's average blood sugar level, the higher their risk for serious complications, such as kidney failure and neuropathy, according to the American Diabetes Association. Knowing your average blood sugar levels can help you and your doctor determine if treatment changes need to be made to lower future A1c test results.

    How It Works

    • Inside your red blood cells, a substance called "hemoglobin" helps to move oxygen around your body. When your blood sugar is too high, some of the excess sugar bonds to the hemoglobin; this bond is permanent. An A1c test looks for the percentage of hemoglobin in the blood that is bonded to sugar, or "glycated."

    Goals

    • A non-diabetic person has an A1c of between 4% and 6%, according to WebMD. The American Diabetes Association recommends that diabetics maintain an A1c of below 7%; consistent results higher than this range increase the risk for serious complications.

    Correlation to Blood Sugar Numbers

    • An A1c of 7% is equivalent to an average blood sugar level of 154. The American Diabetes Association website provides a calculator that converts your A1c to an estimated average blood glucose number.

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