What are the different type diabetes tests available?
There are two basic ways a health care professional monitors the blood glucose (sugar) of a diabetes patient:
Random blood glucose diabetes testing
This is usually a self-monitored test, performed by the patient randomly during the day, using a blood glucose meter that measures the actual level of sugar in the blood at the time of the test. This test can also be performed by a health care professional in a clinical setting.
Hemoglobin A1c diabetes testing
Since blood glucose levels vary widely during the day, a single measurement of blood glucose is a poor indicator of overall diabetes control. The hemoglobin A1c test, by comparison, measures the amount of sugar that is attached to the hemoglobin (the part of the cell that carries oxygen) in red blood cells. Once the sugar is attached, it stays there for the life of the red blood cell (about 120 days). The higher the level of blood sugar, the more sugar attaches to red blood cells. The hemoglobin A1c test measures the amount of sugar sticking to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells, showing the average blood sugar for the past several months. Results are given in percentages.
The hemoglobin A1c goal for patients with diabetes is less than 7 percent. If you test your hemoglobin A1c routinely, you will know if your recent value is lower or higher than your last one. If the most recent value is lower, you know you are making progress. Conversely, if the recent value is higher, a change in treatment may be necessary. You will often need a change in treatment if your value is over 8 percent.
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