HbA1c and Mean Blood Glucose (Over a period of 8-10 weeks) and Other Tests

Diabetes is a chronic, yet treatable condition. Recent studies have shown the value of light blood sugar control in delaying diabetic complications. Good blood sugar control is beneficial for all people with diabetes.

Uncontrolled Diabetes over a period of time leads to following complication:

1. Eye problems
2. Heart Attack
3. Kidney diseases
4. Nerve damage

Suggested Investigations

Following investigations should be done 10 keep a check complications.

Of these two main tests related to help achieve good blood sugar control are:

1. Blood glucose level monitoring
2. HBA1C and Mean Blood Glucose (MBG)

What is HbA1c?

In the blood stream, sticky glucose attaches to hemoglobin (hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen). As the glucose level increases, so does the amount of hemoglobin with glucose riding piggyback. Once glucose attaches to hemoglobin, it stays attached and becomes glychemoglobin­HBAlc.

The HbA1c test is a with a money. It tells your doctor about average glucose control over the past 8-10 weeks.

Benefits of HbA1c Testing

By measuring the percentage of HBA1C' doctors can estimate the average glucose level over the life span of the red blood cells. In other words, the HbA1c test reveals long-term control over the last 8-10 weeks.

HbA1c test values will begin to reflect major changes in diet and therapy in about 3 to 4 weeks after the change.

While blood sugar testing is like a snap shot, HBA1c testing is more like a full-length movie-it provides an overall view of your glucose control.

Reaching Your Target

Your doctor uses your HbA1c results to fine-tune your treatment. The normal range for the HbA1c test is between .4% and 6%. However, people with diabetes may have an HbA1c level greater than 8%. In uncontrolled diabetes, the level may be higher. The ADA recommends that the target for good glucose control is 7% HbA1c.

How often should you be tested for HbA1c?

Getting an HBA.c test is easy. It only requires one sample of blood, drawn at anytime of the day, including right after a meal.

To ensure the best possible care, be sure to ask your doctor for an HbA1c test today. Also, it is important to ensure that your doctor uses a certified HBA1C test. Remember, you'll be looking at the trend in your HbA1c numbers over time, 'so quality is important.

Using Your HbA.c Test Results

If your HbA1c level is less than 7% you are doing an excellent job of obtaining near nonnal glucose levels.

If your HbA1c level is greater than 8%, some change in your treatment plan may be needed; c.heck with your doctor.

Achieving your target HbA1c level is the best way to reduce the risk of developing long-tenn complications.

Get Your Pipes Checked

It is a good idea to get pipes checked. In people with long standing and poorly controlled diabetes, high blood glucose can effect the small blood vessels supplying the kidney and retina and large blood vessels supplying the Brain, Heart and lower limbs (legs and feet). Narrowing of arteries is a nonnal part of growing old but it is more common in people who have diabetes. Smoking and poor diabetes control make it worse, if you get pain in calf and foot on walking it indicates that the blood supply to the legs is insufficient and that there is obstruction to the blood flow. It can even lead to gangrene which may require amputation of foot or leg.

If you have any of the symptoms listed, check with your doctor to see if you should schedule a painless vascular examination. Early detection of vascular problems can help you to avoid serious complications and help you enjoy your life to the fullest.

Care of Kidney in Diabetes

Micral Test (Test for Micro-Albuminurea)

This Test detects microscopic amounts of albumin in the urine and signifies signs of very early kidney damage.

In the early stage of kidney damage, there is a leak of very smaltamounts of protein (albumin) into the urine. If it is a consistent finding, it indicates that your kidneys have been damaged by your diabetes. If this is the case, then attention to the control of your blood glucose and treatment of high blood pressure is of great importance, as this can stabilize or even reverse the condition.

Test is very simple and for this we only need a sample of urine.

Correlation Between HbA1c and Glucose Levels