In this Article

• What is diabetes?
• What is the treatment for diabetes?
• Exercise therapy
• Diet therapy (diabetic diet)
• Drug therapy
• How is diabetic treatment monitored at home?
• Blood glucose reagent strips
• Blood glucose meters
• Urine glucose tests
• Tests for urinary ketones
• What additional monitoring does the doctor do?
• Blood glucose
• Continuous glucose sensors (CGMS)
• Hemoglobin A1C testing
• Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring At A Glance
• Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring Glossary
• Diabetic Home Care and Monitoring Index

Hemoglobin A1C testing

The hemoglobin A1C test is very important in the monitoring of blood glucose control in diabetes. In brief, hemoglobin A1C is a term used to describe a series of chemical reactions which occur when red blood cells are exposed to glucose. A red blood cell lives for about three months, so this reading is an average of three months worth of blood sugar control. Many different types of methods are available in the lab to determine the A1C levels. Regardless, the A1C level has been shown to predict the risk for developing complications of diabetes, much in the same way that cholesterol levels are predictive of heart disease. The A1c test should be performed routinely in all patients with diabetes, first to document the degree of glycemic control at initial assessment then to follow the patient as part of their diabetes management. It should be performed at three month intervals.

A blood sample can be obtained through a usual venous blood draw (through the vein) and sent to a laboratory for A1C measurement. Alternatively, many physicians who specialize in diabetes now have A1c machines in their office, which will read a fingerstick blood sample within a few minutes.

There are a few conditions in which the A1C values may be inaccurate, and these mostly are a result of problems with the red blood cells. For example, results may be falsely low if the red cells are too few (as with anemia, which may be due to many different causes, see "Anemia"). Similarly, in conditions where the red blood cells loose their spherical shape (as in thalassemias, sickle cells disease and spherocytosis), falsely low readings can occur. The A1C is a valuable tool in helping to individualize patient care so that glycemic goals can be achieved.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• insulin - Establishes the medication insulin, a drug used for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
• Hemoglobin A1c Test - Hemoglobin A1c test is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control for patients with diabetes
• Diabetes - Learn about type 1 and 2 diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) symptoms including increased urination, thirst, weight loss, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin infections, and blurred vision. Causes and diagnosis information is provided in the information.

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