If you have Diabetes 2 , knowing your current HbA1c levels may save your life and limbs over the long haul. The HbA1c screens for the current levels of glycated hemoglobin in your blood. It expresses the amount of glucose that your blood has encountered over the past six to eight weeks. Glycated hemoglobin develops when blood glucose attaches to hemoglobin. Evaluating this form of hemoglobin gives a precise depiction of how much glucose is in the blood. It is a test performed on a regular basis on diabetes patients to see what effect modifications in diet, exercise, and medications are having on their long-term glucose levels.

What do the results of the test indicate? A normal HbA1c test result will come back with 6% or lower of glycated hemoglobin. Marginal results land between 6-7%. If your results are over 7%, your type 2 diabetes may not be in check. Every time you undergo an HbA1c, you need your count to go down or persist below the 6% mark. If your numbers begin to increase, your current diet, exercise, and medication regimen is not functioning and you may need to make modifications. If the numbers are substantially over the 7% mark, you are on the road for trouble very rapidly since the glucose levels are potentially doing damage all over the body.

How do the results of an HbA1c differ from your everyday glucose monitoring? Day-to-day monitoring indicates what your current glucose levels look like. It will establish spikes and falls in the amount within the blood after a meal or physical exertion. On the other hand, testing for HbA1c is not for day-to-day monitoring of blood sugar levels for those with type 2 diabetes. HbA1c shows the average quantity of glucose in your blood for the past few weeks. It is a medically accepted fact that it doesn’t display the day-to-day ups and downs.

How do you use HbA1c in keeping your type 2 diabetes under control? Since it quantifies the long-term levels of glucose in the blood, periodic screening will show if you have your glucose in check or not. For the best possible results, getting it down below 6% is best. Holding it under 7% will help hold up the onset of severe health complications. You and your doctor should have these tests done at least a few times a year to make sure your diabetes is under control. This will give you the information you need to make adjustments where necessary.