Blood Sugar Level Strips

What in the world is an A1c?

An A1c (sometimes referred to as Hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, or I hear some people accidentally call it Ac1) can give you an idea of your average blood sugar control over the past 2-3 months. It can help determine if your treatment plan is helping. It is still helpful for you to check your blood sugar but the A1c gives a quick look at the big picture. It can sometimes be done in the office by pricking your finger and is ordered through bloodwork other times. It is normally checked at least twice per year if you have diabetes or prediabetes. But how does it work? Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that help carry oxygen from the lungs to other cells in the body. (A hemoglobin level is different than a hemoglobin A1c level). When blood sugar is high, it glycates (sort of sticks to) the hemoglobin. Your provider can order a hemoglobin A1c test which will measure the percentage of A1c in the blood. Using the A1c, they can give you an estimate of your average blood sugar over thepast 2-3 months. For example, an A1c of 7% would indicate an average of about 150-154 depending on what source you use.