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HbA1c
Hemoglobin A1c (A1c)
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 reasonable and 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 as follows. While there are no guidelines to use A1c as a screening tool, it gives a physician 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 patients known to have diabetes. A1c(%) Mean blood sugar (mg/dl) 6 135 7 170 8 205 9 240 10 275 11 310 12 345 The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0%. Other Groups such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists feel that an A1c of <6.5% should be the goal. Of interest, studies have shown that there is about a 10% decrease in relative risk for microvascular disease for every 1% reduction in A1c. So, if a patient starts off with an A1c of 10.7 and drops to 8.2, though there are not yet at goal, they have managed to decrease their risk of microvascular complications by about 20%. The closer to normal the A1c, the lower the absolute risk for microvascular complications. Data also suggests that the risk of macrovascular disease decreases by about 24% for every 1% reduction in A1c values. It should be mentioned here that there are a number of conditions in which an A1c value may not be accurate. For example, with significant anemia, the red blood cell count is low, and thus the A1c is altered. This may also be the case in sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies.
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 reasonable and 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 as follows. While there are no guidelines to use A1c as a screening tool, it gives a physician 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 patients known to have diabetes. A1c(%) Mean blood sugar (mg/dl) 6 135 7 170 8 205 9 240 10 275 11 310 12 345 The American Diabetes Association currently recommends an A1c goal of less than 7.0%. Other Groups such as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists feel that an A1c of <6.5% should be the goal. Of interest, studies have shown that there is about a 10% decrease in relative risk for microvascular disease for every 1% reduction in A1c. So, if a patient starts off with an A1c of 10.7 and drops to 8.2, though there are not yet at goal, they have managed to decrease their risk of microvascular complications by about 20%. The closer to normal the A1c, the lower the absolute risk for microvascular complications. Data also suggests that the risk of macrovascular disease decreases by about 24% for every 1% reduction in A1c values. It should be mentioned here that there are a number of conditions in which an A1c value may not be accurate. For example, with significant anemia, the red blood cell count is low, and thus the A1c is altered. This may also be the case in sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies.
