Diabetes A1c - Get to know your number 

So often, people with diabetes are caught off guard by poor glucose control.  Random fingerstick blood glucoses are a snapshot of where the glucose level is at that point in time.  However, there might be times when glucose levels are above or below target.  For that reason, A1c, a routine test used to evaluate blood glucose control, is so important.

What does A1c (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) mean?  First off, this is a blood test.  Hemoglobin is a protein that is found in red blood cells.  Glucose attaches (glycates) to hemoglobin.  The higher the level of glucose in the bloodstream, the more glucose is attached to each hemoglobin molecule.  The A1c test measures the percent of glucose attached to your red blood cells.

A person with no history of diabetes would typically have 5% of their hemoglobin glycated.  For persons with diabetes, the A1c number is dependent on the levels of glucose present in the blood.  Hemoglobin molecules live about 120 days.  After that, new ones are produced.  The A1c test measures glucose average over the previous 2-3 months.

A1c	Mean Blood Glucose
6%	120 mg/dL
7%	150 mg/dL
8%	180 mg/dL
9%	210 mg/dL
10%	240 mg/dL
11%	270 mg/dL

Join us at the CaroMont Annual Health Fair on February 21, 2009 at Westfield Eastride Mall in Gastonia from 10am-2pm.  CaroMont Diabetes Center is offering a free diabetes screening to the public.  If you already have diabetes, stop by for an A1c test (limited to the first 50 persons with diabetes). 

Remember, it's important to know your A1c to:

• Validate your daily blood glucose testing
• Decide if your treatment plan is effective
• Encourage you to keep making healthy choices

Call 704-671-7830  or email diabetescenter@gmh.org for a free brochure from the CaroMont Diabetes Center on the A1c Blood Test.

You can also visit the National Alc website for more information.