As the end of November draws near, so does the end of Diabetes Awareness Month. However, it is still important to continue spreading awareness for diabetes. As a disease that affects almost 30 million Americans, it is crucial to stress the importance of getting tested for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes before symptoms occur.
Diabetes is an extremely common disease among adults in the U.S. and there are almost 9 million people who are not even aware that they have diabetes. Catching diabetes early can help improve your treatment and management options. If you find out you are in the stage of prediabetes, you can get treatment to help prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes.
This is why testing is so important and one of the best tests you can take is the A1C test. In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Avail Clinical Research is offering free A1C testing at our clinic in DeLand, Florida.
A1C testing is open to anyone. However, available appointments are limited, so make sure you schedule an appointment today! Visit our webpage here to schedule your appointment or give us a call at (386) 785-2400.
What is an A1C Test and Why is it Important?
The A1C test is a blood test used in for the management of diabetes and for diagnosing type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. The test measures the average blood glucose levels of an individual from the past 3 months.
The A1C test works by showing your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months, reflected as a percentage. The test relies on measuring the percentage of glucose attached to hemoglobin in red blood cells. Although these red blood cells are continually dying and reforming, they last for about 3 months in the body.
But why is the A1C test so important? The A1C test is the most commonly used test for diabetes research and diabetes management. Beyond that, the A1C test can be used to help diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes.
Many people are living with diabetes and may not even know it because they have never been tested. In earlier stages, diabetes does not present with any symptoms, so many people may not feel that they are at risk. However, if you are at greater risk for diabetes because of your lifestyle or family history, you should consider getting an A1C test.
Certain risk factors that increase your chances of developing diabetes include:
- High blood pressure
- Age
- Ethnicity
- Family history of diabetes
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- A sedentary and inactive lifestyle
- Obesity
- Poor diet
These and other factors can increase your risk of diabetes and may require certain lifestyle changes to lower your risk. Talk to your doctor about scheduling an A1C test if any of the above factors relate to you.
Getting tested and catching diabetes early can be crucial to improving your doctor’s ability to treat the disease. Diabetes is a lifelong illness and treating it early may stop serious complications from occurring. Catching someone during prediabetes is even better! When treatment and lifestyle changes are applied during prediabetes, it can help delay or even prevent diabetes from developing.
Understanding What the Numbers Mean
You might be asking yourself how do I understand the results of my A1C test? We are here to help. As mentioned earlier, the A1C test is reflected as a percentage. If your results show a higher percentage reading, this means you have had higher blood glucose levels over the past 3 months.
Results from the A1C test fall into the following ranges:
- Normal – If you have a A1C reading of 5.7% or lower then you fall into the normal blood glucose range.
- Prediabetes – Having a reading of 5.7% to 6.4% means that you are in the prediabetes range and may have prediabetes.
- Diabetes – Once you have a reading of 6.5% or higher you have reached the blood glucose range associated with diabetes.
If you do receive a test result showing that you are in the diabetic blood glucose range, make sure you get a second test to confirm the results.
If you are already living with diabetes and using the A1C test to help you manage your diabetes make sure you know what percentage you should be aiming for. For most adults a target of 7% or less is the common goal for A1C test results. However, not everyone is the same. Make sure you talk with your doctor about what your target should be.
What to do if Your Results are not Good
Are you struggling to keep your A1C results in your target range? Keep getting bad results? It can be difficult to maintain the right blood glucose levels when you are living with diabetes, but there are some simple things you can do. Making some lifestyle changes can go a long way in helping you improve your A1C test results and managing your diabetes.
Here are some simple things you can do to try and improve your A1C results and hit your target ranges:
- Begin exercising regularly. Aim for 5 days a week and 30 minutes a day. This will help lower cholesterol, blood sugar levels and body weight.
- Try switching to a healthier diet with more fruits and vegetables, and less fatty foods.
- Make sure you are taking the proper dosage of blood glucose medication and aim to take it at the same time daily.
Following these tips will not only help you lower your A1C test results, but also help you live a healthier life. For more tips on how to meet your A1C target range, click here.
Now that you know the importance of getting your A1C test, what are you waiting for? Go get your test today and make sure you’re being as healthy as you can be!
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