To explain what an Hemoglobin A1c is, think in simple terms. Sugar sticks, and when it's around for a long time, it's harder to get it off. In the body, sugar sticks too, particularly to proteins. The red blood cells that circulate in the body live for about three months before they die off. When sugar sticks to these cells, it gives us an idea of how much sugar is around for the preceding three months. In most labs, the normal range is 4%-5.9 %. In poorly controlled diabetes, its 8.0% or above, and in well controlled patients it's less than 7.0% (optimal is 6.5%). The benefits of measuring A1c is that is gives a more stable view of what's happening over the course of time (three months), and the value does not bounce as much as finger stick blood sugar measurements. There is a direct correlation between A1c levels and average blood sugar levels. While there are no guidelines to use A1c as a screening tool, it gives a dr a good idea that someone is diabetic if the value is elevated. Right now, it is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control in diabetic patients.
reference medicinenet.com
I felt that if I told people, then they would think it was my fault....
that if I had worked out harder or eaten better, I might have prevented it.
It is not fair to judge which diabetes condition is more serious, all types of diabetes have a serious impact on people’s health, it is a difficult condition which takes a lot of time, persistence and care to manage.
