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Diabetes Test (Hemoglobin A1c)
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Convenient - self-collected at home or
office
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Accurate - Nationally Certified Laboratory
results
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Insurance Reimbursement Code - included
with results
This is a self-collected laboratory
analysis that measures the amount of hemoglobin A1c in
your blood. Your test results will greatly assist your
health care professional in determining your best course
of diabetes treatment.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a complicated, chronic disease that impairs
your body's ability to produce or properly use insulin,
which, in turn, causes your blood sugar level to increase.
This build-up of sugar, without treatment, can cause
blindness, heart attack, loss of feet or legs to
amputation, kidney dysfunction, and even death. There is
no cure for diabetes, but there are a number of things you
can do to control it.
Approximately 15 to 16 million people in
the United States are known to have diabetes. In addition,
an estimated 8 million American adults have undiagnosed
diabetes. That estimate does not include people who have
borderline diabetes or pre-diabetes. Diabetes affects both
men and women.
Serious but Manageable
Diabetes is a very serious disease, but it can be
controlled with proper self-management. Many people
affected with diabetes lead very normal and productive
lives by following a few simple guidelines:
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Proper diet
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Regular exercise
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Check your feet (daily)
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Eye examination (annual)
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Physical examination (annual)
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Total Cholesterol Panel blood test (annual)
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Hemoglobin A1c blood test (2-4 each year)
Note: For proper guidance regarding these
issues, always consult with your health care professional.
HbA1c testing is a Necessity
Periodic hemoglobin A1c testing gives you and your health
care professional the most accurate picture of your
overall diabetes control. By lowering your HbA1c number
(or keeping it low) you can help avoid the risk of serious
diabetes problems affecting the eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
It is important to note that lowering your
hemoglobin A1c level by any amount will improve your
overall health.
Note: Test results provide important
information, but never adjust your medication(s) based on
the test results alone. Always consult with your health
care professional before making any changes in your
treatment.
Keeping on Track
There are two basic ways a health care professional
monitors the blood glucose (sugar) of a diabetes patient:
Random blood glucose 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 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.
Note: The important thing to remember is
that if you have diabetes, and if you lower your
hemoglobin A1c by any amount, you dramatically improve
your chances of staying healthy.
Testing Frequency
Everyone affected with diabetes should have a hemoglobin
A1c test at least twice a year.
If you are affected with Type 1 diabetes,
if you are taking insulin, or if your blood sugars are
consistently too high, you should have this test performed
every 3 months.
Regular hemoglobin A1c testing will help
you keep your blood sugar levels on track.
Diabetes is a serious disease. Regular
monitoring is an important element of your care.
Note: Test results provide important
information, but never adjust your medication(s) based on
the test results alone. Always consult with your health
care professional before making any changes in your
treatment.
What are the Diabetes Categories and
Risk Factors?
Most forms of diabetes fall within two major categories:
Type 1 is insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (IDDM) or "juvenile onset." Fortunately, only
about 5 - 10% of all diabetic patients are affected with
Type 1 (insulin-dependent).
Type 2 is non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (NIDDM) or "adult onset." It usually occurs in
patients over 35-40 years of age but can occur in
children. Type 2 patients tend to be obese, and although
not dependent on insulin for survival, may require it for
hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) that is resistant to
other treatment.
Gestational diabetes develops in 2-5 % of
all pregnancies. Although it usually disappears when
pregnancy is over, it occasionally persists in women with
previously undetected diabetes. Sometimes insulin is
required. Most all women with gestational diabetes will
have a recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. With each
successive pregnancy, the diabetes has a tendency to begin
sooner, become more severe, and develop into a permanent
condition.
Some patients have unexplained combinations
of Types 1 and 2. Overlapping characteristics of the two
types include patients who typically have adult onset but
are near normal in body weight and are insulin-deficient
(they require insulin treatment). This form of diabetes is
sometimes referred to as "Type 1 ½".
Secondary diabetes describes most forms not
covered by the two main types. Causes of these include any
condition that causes damage to or loss of the pancreas
(blunt trauma, cancer, alcohol abuse, exposure to
chemicals, pancreatitis).
What are the Major Symptoms of
Diabetes?
People with diabetes may have some (or none) of the
following symptoms:
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Frequent Urination
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Excessive Thirst
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Unexplained Weight Loss
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Extreme Hunger
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Sudden Changes in Vision
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Tingling or Numbness in Hands or Feet
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A Frequent Feeling of being Very Tired
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Very Dry Skin
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Sores that are Slow to Heal
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More Infections than Usual
How do Blood Glucose and HbA1c
testing differ?
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is important. A
finger-stick test using a blood glucose meter measures the
actual level of sugar in the blood at the time of the
test. The hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the average
blood sugar over a 90 day period. HbA1c can be sampled at
any time during the day. By contrast, daily blood sugars
are taken at specific times, usually just before or after
meals.
Together, these two tests help people with
diabetes see how food, physical activity, and diabetes
medicines affect their blood sugar. A correlation of test
results helps the patient and the health care professional
better manage the disease.
All people with diabetes need regular HbA1c
testing. Most people with diabetes also need to
self-monitor their blood glucose to get a complete picture
of blood sugar control.
Always consult with your health care
professional before adjusting any of your medications.
Never adjust your medications based on test kit results.
The Testing Procedure
The BIOSAFE Diabetes Test (HbA1c) is a laboratory
procedure that measures the total amount of hemoglobin A1c
in your blood. Comparing the results of your initial HbA1c
test to the results of subsequent tests can determine the
progress you’ve made in properly managing your diabetes.
The specimen collection process is quick,
easy and virtually painless. Using the special lancet
(included in the BIOSAFE Blood Collection Kit), a couple
of drops of blood are taken from a nick of a finger and
deposited onto a special collection card. The card is then
sent to BIOSAFE Laboratories for analysis. BIOSAFE tests
your blood sample to see how much HbA1c is present and
then mails the results back to you in an easy-to-read,
understandable report.
Since the BIOSAFE Diabetes Test produces a
numerical result rather than a simple "yes" or "no"
answer, both testing approval and professional review of
test results are required by a licensed physician. BIOSAFE
has developed a nationwide network of medical doctors for
this purpose.
You may order a BIOSAFE Diabetes Test by
clicking on the button below. When your order is approved,
your Blood Collection Kit will be sent to you by first
class mail.
After your test analysis is completed by
BIOSAFE Laboratories, the results will be reviewed by a
licensed physician before being sent back to you.
Routine monitoring of your HbA1c level is
just one of the very important steps that you must take to
help keep your diabetes under control. Without HbA1c
testing you're taking unnecessary risks. BIOSAFE has made
HbA1c testing more convenient than ever. Don’t delay
another day -- Your life is far too important!
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