What is the HbA1c Test?
Diabetes mellitus, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a metabolic disorder characterized by high blood sugar. The hormone called insulin ensures that excess sugar in the blood is used as energy or stored in various organs. Diabetes occurs in cases such as the decrease in the level of this hormone and the insufficient response of the body to the hormone.
The disease is first in people; It causes symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. As diabetes progresses, it can cause many serious problems such as eye problems, kidney failure, susceptibility to infection, non-healing wounds, especially on the feet, and cardiovascular diseases.
For this reason, people diagnosed with diabetes should regularly use the drugs prescribed by the doctor and should not include foods containing high sugar in their diet.
When these methods are applied, blood sugar is controlled. Controlled diabetes reduces the likelihood of complications and improves the person's quality of life. It is also of great importance for diabetics to have regular check-ups in the course of the disease.
If the disease control is not sufficient in line with the results of the tests requested by the doctor, the drug dose or treatment method can be changed, and if it is sufficient, the treatment is continued in the same way.
Glucose measurements from blood or urine are the most widely used methods for assessing blood sugar. Although these tests are very reliable methods of showing the patient's blood sugar level, they provide information about the instant status of the patient.
Even in healthy people, blood sugar can rise or fall during the day for different reasons. For example, blood sugar; can be affected by many conditions such as eating, having an infection, being on a menstrual period, and post-exercise.
The HbA1c test shows the patient's average sugar level in the past 2-3 months. Therefore, it is a very useful test in the follow-up of sugar control. It reflects the general state of the patient for 2-3 months rather than the instant or daily situation. This test, in use since the 1980s, can also be used to identify diabetes and prediabetes.
For the test, blood must be taken from a vein and the blood sample must be analyzed by the laboratory.
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The HbA1c test is a method that measures the amount of glucose bound to the hemoglobin protein. Protein hemoglobin which is present in the blood cells transports oxygen throughout the body. Hemoglobin is a dynamic molecule that is constantly being made and broken down.
The average life expectancy of a hemoglobin protein produced in the body is 3 months. When there is an excess of glucose in the blood, the amount of binding to hemoglobin increases. Therefore, the measured HbA1c value increases.
The reason behind the test showing the general sugar control in the last 2-3 months is related to the life span of hemoglobin. The HbA1c test result is high if sugar control is insufficient and the patient's blood glucose levels are constantly high.
HbA1c test:
Patients with Type 2 diabetes who do not use insulin and whose blood sugar is in the target range,
Four times a year for patients with type 1 diabetes
· Type 2 diabetes patients who use insulin or whose blood sugar is not within the desired range are also recommended to have it done four times a year.
What is the HbA1c Normal Value?
HbA1c test results are given in percent. High HbA1c means high blood sugar. High HbA1c values pose a risk in terms of diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
In a healthy person, the HbA1c value is considered to be 5.7 and below. If the test result of the person is in the range of 5.7-6.4, the person has prediabetes (hidden sugar). This means that the person is more likely to have diabetes in the future.
A person with values of 6.5 and above in two different Hba1c measurements is diabetic. If the HbA1c value is 8 and above, it means that sugar control cannot be done properly. A person with these results is more likely to experience complications such as diabetes-related vision problems, heart attack, and kidney failure.
Most diabetic patients want the ideal HbA1c value to be below 7 after treatment. However, conditions such as the person's age, general health status, comorbidities, and severity of diabetes may affect the ideal value.
For example, values less than 7 can be targeted for a person who has been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at the age of 30 and does not have any additional disease. It will be beneficial for diabetics to determine the target value that will be suitable for them together with their doctor.
The percentage of HbA1c is directly proportional to blood glucose. For example, an HbA1c value of 6 means that the person's average blood glucose level in the last 2-3 months was 126 mg/dL. This number increases to 183 when the HbA1c value is 8, and to 240 when it is 10.
In some cases, it may be the case that the HbA1c test does not give an accurate result. These situations are:
A decrease in the amount of hemoglobin may be observed due to heavy or chronic bleeding. This leads to low test results.
· In case of iron deficiency anemia, test results may be high.
There are several subtypes of hemoglobin. As with thalassemia (Mediterranean anemia) carriers and patients, the test result of people with different hemoglobin types may be affected by this condition.
Low test results may also be seen in patients with hemolytic anemia in which hemoglobin destruction is increased, and in people who receive a blood transfusion (transplant).
It should be kept in mind that there may be differences when evaluating test results in people with this condition. In addition, if necessary, the problem can be resolved by applying different tests that are not affected by this situation.
How to Lower HbA1c?
HbA1c value can be lowered by lifestyle changes in diet and exercise as well as medication. However, it may not be safe for patients at risk of hypoglycemia (too low blood sugar) to set an HBA1c target of less than 7. For this reason, the patient should first determine the ideal HbA1c value with his doctor.
Eating healthy is of great importance in the control of diabetes. It is recommended that the person consume fewer calories than they burn, avoid foods containing trans fat and refined sugar, and not consume excessive amounts of processed foods.
Although sugar taken from natural foods such as vegetables and fruits is more innocent, the number of carbohydrates consumed should be under control. If fruits such as grapes and watermelon with high sugar content are to be eaten, they should be consumed in small portions. In controlling blood sugar:
- · Broccoli
- · Sea products
- Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds
- · Nuts, almonds
- · Okra
- · Flaxseed
- · Legumes
- · Cabbage
- Chia seeds
- · Cherry, raspberry
- · Oat
- · Avocado
- · Citrus
- Yogurt, kefir
- · Egg
It is beneficial to consume foods such as apples.
One way to control blood sugar is to lose weight. Reaching the ideal weight of overweight people is effective both in maintaining a healthy life and in reducing diabetes-related complications.
One way to reduce HbA1c levels is to exercise regularly. It is recommended that the person should do sports suitable for his age and health condition for at least 150 minutes a week.
Along with diabetes treatment, lifestyle changes such as exercise and a healthy diet contribute to controlling the disease.
Diabetes is a disease that is very common in society and many people who have not been sick yet are at risk. To see if patients can achieve diabetes control; It would be beneficial for people who have not had diabetes yet to go to a doctor's control regularly in order to reduce the risk of disease by having regular check-ups.
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