What Is A1C?

If you have diabetes, you are no doubt used to testing your blood sugar each day with a pinprick. Sometimes, your doctor will do some more advanced testing to read your blood glucose levels. One such test is the A1C, sometimes also referred to as HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin testing.

Reasons

• Doctors use the A1C test as a key to the past, in a respect. Daily glucose testing helps people with diabetes manage their diet and exercise on a daily basis, while the A1C test gives an overall picture of how blood sugar levels have been managed for the past 8 to 12 weeks.

Procedure

• The A1C test is a simple blood test. You'll go to a lab, where the staff will take some blood from a vein in the inside of your elbow.

Side Effects

• Some people may feel a throbbing sensation for a short period after the test is done. No long-term side effects are usual with the A1C test.

Results

• MedlinePlus reports that a normal reading of A1C is 6 percent, but the American Diabetes Association points out that each lab may read the test in a slightly different way, and considers 8 percent to be "near normal."

Benefits

• The benefit of having the A1C test performed is knowledge. Your results will either tell your physician that your treatment for diabetes is working or that you need an adjustment. Knowledge of this kind makes you a healthier person.