Know more about your hemoglobin A1C test
What is hemoglobin A1C test?
You can call this a diagnostic procedure that determines your blood sugar level from the time blood new red blood cells were created in your body. Red blood cells renew in within 3-4 months, so this test usually shows the blood sugar level of the past 3-4 months. This hemoglobin A1C blood test helps you to find out how close you are to getting diabetes so you can take necessary precautions before things go out of hand. You also come to know what type of diabetes you have, if you have.
Cost of hemoglobin A1C test
The cost of this test may vary from location to location.
Without insurance: Medical cost has drastically moved higher over the past couple of years and without insurance your hemoglobin A1C test can cost you a lot because it isn’t a one time test, to monitor your blood sugar level, this test will be recommended more than once. A single test can cost around $100 and combined tests can come up to $1500 without insurance.
With insurance: People who have insurance will not face the above-mentioned cost as most insurance have the cost of blood tests covered.
How hemoglobin A1C test works?
A1C is another word for glycated hemoglobin. When glucose cross links with hemoglobin, it becomes glycated hemoglobin leading a person towards diabetes condition. Hemoglobin A1C test measures the A1C level. This test can also diagnose pre-diabetes apart from Type II diabetes.
Who should get tested?
Diabetes is a lifetime disease and a serious disease. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you cannot cure it. The only way to deal with it is by following a certain type of restrictive lifestyle. Hence, it is importance to learn if you are close to getting the disease or not so you can take precautions.
People who are obese should definitely get this test done. Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes and many other blood and heart related diseases.
People who are overweight but not obese should also get this test done as they can get diabetes if certain things aren’t controlled before time.
People who have a family history of diabetes should also get this test done as in most cases people who are slightly overweight and have a family history of diabetes, might be more prone to diabetes than people who have no family history of diabetes.
