HBA1C Test
What is the Haemoglobin A1c (HBA1C) test?
Haemoglobin is an important part of red blood cells (RBCs) that carries oxygen from the lungs to your entire body. Also, it is responsible for the red colour of the blood. A haemoglobin A1C test helps determine the amount of blood sugar (glucose) in haemoglobin. It shows the average amount of sugar that has been attached to haemoglobin over the last three months. Because red blood cells couldn’t last for longer than this.
Hence, people who are diagnosed with diabetes or are vulnerable to diabetes, need this test regularly to see if their sugar level is normal or not. And if your HBA1C levels are high, you need immediate treatment to avoid other health issues such as heart disease and kidney disease caused by diabetes.
Note: Service available only in Mumbai, India
What is it used to monitor?
An HBA1C test is used to detect diabetes and prediabetes (when you are at risk of developing diabetes) in adults. Moreover, if you are already diagnosed then the test is used to monitor if your treatment is working fine. However, only one test may not show accurate results.
What is the need for an HBA1C test for an adult?
Doctors recommend an HBA1C test for everyone after the age of 45. This test will monitor your current sugar levels and help you control them. If your HBA1C test results are normal then you can consider an HBA1C test every 3 years. But if your test results show that you have diabetes or prediabetes, you should get tested every 8-9 months.
Additionally, you can also consult with your doctor about the measures that you must take to avoid diabetes.
Factors due to which you should get tested immediately even before the age of 45 have been discussed below:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Not being physically active
- Heart disease
- Bad eating habits
- Excess consumption of sweet dishes and sugar
Also, if you are experiencing the following symptoms lately then you should get tested:
- Fatigue and nausea
- Weakness
- Enhanced thirst
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
Moreover, an HBA1C test will set a boundary, so you can always remember what your sugar consumption limit is. Hence, an HBA1C test is a must for every adult.