A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.

During the A1C test, a member of your health care team takes a blood sample by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm or pricking your finger tip with a small, pointed lancet. If the blood is taken from a vein, the blood sample is sent to a lab for analysis.

Doctors usually recommend that people with diabetes have an HbA1c test about every 3-6 months, as it gives an indication of the overall control of blood glucose levels over the previous 8-12 weeks.

General diet tips to lower A1C levels include:

1. being mindful of portion sizes.
2. eating regularly, every 3-5 hours.
3. eating similar sized portions at meals and snacks.
4. planning meals ahead of time.
5. keeping a journal of food, medication, and exercise.
6. spreading out carbohydrate-rich foods throughout the day.

You can also find home A1C kits in most pharmacies such as CVS and at Walmart. A1C kits that require you to collect a blood sample at home and send it to a lab is also available. One FDA-cleared kit that I’ve tried is the Home Access Health home A1C test which was $40 (as of September 2020).

Cómo te preparas. La prueba de A1C es un simple análisis de sangre. No necesitas ayunar para la prueba de A1C, por lo que puedes comer y beber normalmente antes de realizarla.

¿Qué es una prueba de hemoglobina A1c (HbA1c)? Una prueba de hemoglobina A1c (HbA1c) mide la cantidad de azúcar en la sangre (glucosa) adherida a hemoglobina. La hemoglobina es la parte de los glóbulos rojos que transporta el oxígeno de los pulmones al resto del cuerpo.

Los profesionales de la salud pueden usar la prueba de A1C en la etapa temprana de un embarazo para determinar si una mujer con factores de riesgo tenía una diabetes no diagnosticada antes de quedar embarazada.

Usted podría necesitar una prueba de HbA1c si tiene síntomas de diabetes, por ejemplo: Aumento de la sed. Orinar con más frecuencia. Visión borrosa. Cansancio. Su médico o profesional de la salud también podría pedir una prueba de HbA1c si usted tiene un mayor riesgo de tener diabetes.