Freestyle Glucose Meter

This page simply describes the hgb and its importance in people with diabetes. Diabetes educators like myself encourage people with diabetes to know the result of their last A1c test and to follow the trend of their next tests. If you don’t know yours, you’ll want to learn it after you’ve read this page.

The A1c test is the most frequent and might be the most important of diabetes blood tests.

Can you explain hemoglobin A1c and how it’s done?
What is a good A1c result?
Why should I have the Hgb A1c test?
How often should I have the test?
What do you mean “follow the trends”?
How do I lower the A1c?
Can the A1c give false readings?
How do I convert A1c to blood sugars?

Can you explain Hemoglobin A1c and how it is done?

The hemoglobin (hgb) is like a 2-3 month average blood sugar. What you ate the night before the Hgb does NOT affect the result. The test can be done at any time of the day in a lab using a sample of blood from your arm. There are also home kits -see a few paragraphs below.

You do not need to be fasting to have an Hbg done. It can also be known as HbA1c, hemoglobin A1c, A1c, glycosylated hemoglobin, glycohemoglobin or glycated hemoglobin.

Let’s compare A1c to candy apples. Imagine your red blood cells are like candy apples in a zooped up candy factory – maybe Willy Wonka’s – where the apples get soaked in syrup for 3 months! The more sugar in the syrup, the sweeter the apple. Well, the more sugar in your blood, the sweeter the red blood cell. Blood sugar sticks to the hemoglobin in red blood cells – and the red blood cells live for 3 months while floating around in your blood. There you have it – candy coated hemoglobin.

The medical profession calls it glycosylated hemoglobin. (Any protein with sugar attached to it is called “glycosylated”).

Home or Disposable A1c Kits There are some home Hbg kits available. “Choice A1c” or “Choice DM A1c” is a kit that provides results within minutes at your own home. Please do an internet search for “home A1c kit”. I cannot comment on which brand is more reliable or still available.

There are also mail in A1c kits. All can usually be purchased over the counter for a reasonable price – ask your pharmacist for details. You provide a small sample of your blood (eg. wiped on a test card/strip) and mail it in to the company. However…

I must tell you that I have had one reader complain about sending in his kit, not receiving a response and not being able to contact the company afterward. You may wish to call the company prior to purchasing their kits to be sure they are still in business. You may wish to consider researching the company thru the Better Business Bureau prior to committing to anything (boy, that seems like a lot of work doesn’t it??). Also talk with your pharmacist about the reputable mail-in options or deal through a large company that may offer refunds (eg. be sure to check the policies on Amazon if you order through them as you would hope they wouldn’t be selling mail-in kits that could no longer be serviced). Sheesh. All of a sudden it sounds like it might just be easier to go to the lab. (David, thank you for sharing.)

PLEASE NOTE: The does not match the readings you get on your blood glucose meter at home. For conversions of A1c versus blood sugar values that you see on your home meter, please see hgb A1c conversions to home meter readings.

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