Hello, I am Ty Mason of thediabetescouncil.com, researcher, writer and I have type 2 diabetes.
I want to emphasize that my perspective is coming from one with Type 2 and not Type 1.
Our channel is primarily for those with Type 2 Diabetes and PreDiabetes.
Today I want to answer the question What is A1C ? After you watch the video today, I invite
you check out the description box for my new ebook.
This is one of the most comprehensive diabetes meal planning book you can find.
It contains diabetes friendly meals/recipes, recipes for different goals such as 800-1800
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As a person with diabetes there are certain terms and tools we all need to know about
in order to help keep our blood sugar under control.
One of those terms is A1C.
A1C is used to diagnose diabetes, and used as an indicator to help manage diabetes.
The A1C test is a blood test that provides information about a person's average levels
of blood glucose, also called blood sugar, over the past 3 months.
The A1C test is sometimes called the hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or glycohemoglobin test.
Specifically, the A1C test measures the percentage of your hemoglobin that is coated with sugar.
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
If you have a high A1C then you aren’t controlling your blood sugar very well.
This has the potential to cause more diabetic related problems.
Where the A1C is a better indicator of how you are controlling your blood sugar over
simply testing once or twice a day, is that the A1C looks at your average blood glucose
level over a 3 month period.
You may take your levels at the same time each day, say, as soon as you get out of bed.
Your blood sugar reading may be 120 or even better.
But as the day goes on your levels may increase with the consumption of meals, lack of exercise
and other factors.
You are under the impression that you have a good control on your diabetes, when in reality
you are not.
The A1C number is a percentage of the average blood glucose level.
It is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl).
For someone without diabetes the A1C should be 5.7 or below.
When the A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes, an A1C level of 6.5 or higher on 2 different
tests yields a diagnosis of diabetes.
A result between 5.7 and 6.4 gives a diagnosis of prediabetes.
This means a high risk of developing diabetes.
If you have diabetes, your health care provider will more than likely give you goal to reach
concerning your A1C.
Usually 7 is considered a good A1C for someone with Type 2 diabetes.
A good way to think of your A1C test is a tool in your diabetes arsenal to help you
control and improve your diabetes care habits.
This information will hopefully help you stay focused to reach your goals in your diabetes
self care.
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