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.

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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:

Proper diet

Regular exercise

Check your feet (daily)

Eye examination (annual)

Physical examination (annual)

Total Cholesterol Panel blood test (annual)

Hemoglobin A1c blood test (2-4 each year)

Note: For proper guidance regarding these issues, always consult with your health care professional.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 alI 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 ˝".

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).

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What are the Major Symptoms of Diabetes?

People with diabetes may have some (or none) of the following symptoms:

Frequent Urination

Excessive Thirst

Unexplained Weight Loss

Extreme Hunger

Sudden Changes in Vision

Tingling or Numbness in Hands or Feet

A Frequent Feeling of being Very Tired

Very Dry Skin

Sores that are Slow to Heal

More Infections than Usual
 

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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.

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About The Test - The Testing Procedure

The BIOSAFE Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) blood test 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 Hemoglobin A1c 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 Hemoglobin A1c 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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