The Hemoglobin A1c test is the gold standard for measuring blood sugar levels; it identifies average blood sugar (glucose) levels over the past 2-3 months so you can track your progress in managing your diabetes. Glucose blood levels are tightly controlled by hormones like insulin produced by the pancreas. Consistently high blood glucose is typically seen in individuals with uncontrolled or undiagnosed diabetes. In people with diabetes, insulin is either less effective or not produced in sufficient quantity thus making it harder to manage the amount of sugar passing through the blood.
Common signs of high blood sugar levels include increased thirst, increased hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, darkened areas of the folds in the skin (often found in the armpits, groin, and/or neck), and weight loss.
This test may be right for those who are overweight or obese, and/or have certain risk factors for diabetes, such as:
- Have a first- or second-degree family history of type 2 diabetes
- Are American Indian, African American, Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander race or ethnicity
- Have a mother who had diabetes while pregnant with them
- Have conditions that may point to issues with how the body uses insulin:
- Darkened areas in the folds of skin, often found in the armpits, groin, and neck (acanthosis nigricans)
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- Low birth weight
The Hemoglobin A1c Test does not require fasting.
