Re: Had HBA1c blood test
I just had one myself and am awaiting results. My last two were 5.9 and the doctor said this meant I did not have diabetes till it was 6,0 but that I had prediabetes (insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome which carries all the risks of diabetes)But my home tests are pretty high and the research says though are more indicative and important for diabetes than the a1c, so keep a log of them and give to doctor next time.
I did some research for your question and it seems that between 4-6 indicates you do not have diabetes and above that does and the closest you can come to 6% the better diabetes is in control; however,the American Diabetes Association recently changed its recommended A1c from under 8% to 7% or below. Meanwhile, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends an even lower number of less than 6.5%.
so it appears that diabetics should aim to be less than and that they recently changed it from 8%
AACE recommends an even lower number of less than 6.5%.
but one doctor says this
But it's important to know that not everyone can reach these goals. "I've been delighted with the number of patients I have with A1c levels in the low 6% area," says Paul Jellinger, MD, past president of the American Association of Endocrinologists. "But in some patients who have unstable blood
Sugar levels, you're content with 7.2% or 7.4%, since that's the best you can do."
I included some of these links and excerpts so you can read further.
also for more info goggle a1c levels
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What does the test result mean?
A1c is currently reported as a percentage, and it is recommended that diabetics aim to keep their A1c below 7%. The report for your A1c test also may include an estimated Average Glucose (eAG), which is a calculated result based on your A1c levels. The purpose of reporting eAG is to help you relate your A1c results to your everyday glucose monitoring levels. The formula for eAG converts percentage A1c to units of mg/dL or mmol/L so that you can compare it to your glucose levels from home monitoring systems or laboratory tests.
It should be noted that the eAG is still an evaluation of your glucose over the last couple of months. It will not match up exactly to any one daily glucose test result. The American Diabetes Association has adopted this calculation and provides a calculator and information on the eAG on their web site.
A nondiabetic person will have an A1c between 4% and 6%. The closer a diabetic can keep their A1c to 6% without experiencing excessive hypoglycemia, the better their diabetes is in control. As the A1c and eAG increase, so does the risk of complications.
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/a1c/test.html
Test Limit
Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day control. You can't adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood
Sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective control.
It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in different ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you might get back four different test results.
For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have been in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on average, blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab does the test.
Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be "read" differently.
The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood
Sugar control. But it is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work for the best possible control.
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=52041
How Low Should it Be?
Experts agree that a normal A1c for someone without diabetes is between 4%-6%; anything above that should be considered a sign of diabetes.
But exactly where you should be on that scale is debated and the recommendations for target A1c levels vary. For instance, the American Diabetes Association recently changed its recommended A1c from under 8% to 7% or below. Meanwhile, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends an even lower number of less than 6.5%.
All of these different numbers might leave you a bit confused. However, the general rule is that the closer to a normal A1c a person can get, the better, provided that the glucose control is not so strict -- or tight, in medical terminology -- that it induces hypoglycemia, a level of blood sugar that is too low. Treatment almost always includes behavioral techniques, such as weight loss and exercise, and may include medications to lower blood sugar levels.
But it's important to know that not everyone can reach these goals. "I've been delighted with the number of patients I have with A1c levels in the low 6% area," says Paul Jellinger, MD, past president of the American Association of Endocrinologists. "But in some patients who have unstable blood sugar levels, you're content with 7.2% or 7.4%, since that's the best you can do."
Goldstein is somewhat doubtful of the new, lower targets. "I agree that people should strive for the lowest A1c possible," he says, "but most patients can't achieve either the ADA or the AACE goals with current therapies because they're so low. And I think that you have to be careful not to set a goal that most people can't attain."
So what's the upshot? Get your A1c tested regularly and consult with your doctor about what target you should set. In general, aim for below 6.5% or 7%, but understand that it may not always be possible to get there.
wikipedia says
Laboratory results may differ depending on the analytical technique, the age of the subject, and biological variation among individuals. Two individuals with the same average blood sugar can have A1C values that differ by as much as 1 percentage point.[9] In general, the reference range (that found in healthy persons), is about 4%–5.9%.[10]
Higher levels of Hb A1c are found in people with persistently elevated blood sugar, as in diabetes mellitus. While diabetic patient treatment goals vary, many include a target range of Hb A1c values. A diabetic person with good glucose control has a Hb A1c level that is close to or within the reference range. The International Diabetes Federation and American College of Endocrinology recommend Hb A1c values below 6.5%, while American Diabetes Association recommends that the Hb A1c be below 7.0% for most patients.[11]
Recent results from large trials suggest that a target below 7% may be excessive: Below 7% the health benefits of reduced A1C become smaller, and the intensive glycemic control required to reach this level leads to an increased rate of dangerous hypoglycemic episodes.[12] Practitioners need to consider an individual patient's health, their risk of hypoglycemia, and their specific health risks when setting a target A1C level. For example, patients at high risk of microvascular complications may gain further benefits from reducing A1C below 7%. Because patients are responsible for averting or responding to their own hypoglycemic episodes, the patient's input and the doctor's assessment of the patient's self-care skills are also important.