Beverleigh H PiepersLevel: Platinum
From a very young age my caring, nursing instincts were obvious ... they even extended to caring for our neighbor's cat. My mother was, to ... Article Word Count: 480[View Summary]Comments (0)
The hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c test is usually done at the lab, but home-testing kits have now been developed. Measuring your HbA1c at home is a great way for you to take control of your health giving you an earlier warning of problems or hopefully, a quicker confirmation that you are on the right track.
The hemoglobin A1C test is a standard lab test for measuring long-term control over Type 2 diabetes. Most doctors order it at least every 3 or 4 months. The nurse or phlebotomist draws blood and sends it to a central lab, and the doctor may or may not know the results before the Type 1 or Type 2 diabetic comes in to see him. If the test results are running late, diabetics may not know how their diet, exercise, and medications are working for six months or more.
Advances in testing technology have made it possible to do an in-office or at-home HbA1c test for an out-of-pocket cost of under US $10. (Compare this to the charges of up to $250 billed by labs). There are two major advantages to getting this number sooner:
you can ask questions about your progress then and there with your doctor or diabetes educator, andyou can get a good measure of your progress in under 30 days if you do the test at home. Usually your results are sent back to you as early as 7 to 10 business days
Home test kits come complete with collection instructions and require a finger prick to get the blood sample. The kit comes with a prepaid mailer... so you just drop the blood sample in the mail to the advised laboratory. Usually your doctor needs to sign the paperwork ordering the HbA1c test. These test kits are FDA approved and are considered highly reliable and 99.8 percent accurate.
One of the inherent problems with using the HbA1c percentage as a measurement of diabetic control is that the higher your blood sugar levels go, the sooner your red blood cells die. If you have a really high HbA1c, like 20% of diabetics, the reality may be even worse than the number suggests because some red blood cells break down before they are even measured.
On the other hand, if you are making really good progress in controlling your diabetes, most of the change will be measurable in just 30 days, not 90. Wouldn't it be better to know right away you are on the right track?
That's what at-home HbA1c testing can do for you. It's cheaper, it's faster, and it gives you more control over your decisions in diabetes care. Although the initial outlay will be about $100, buying your own at-home HbA1c testing system will give you 10 tests for less than half the price most labs charge for one, and the unit may be covered by insurance.
To discover answers to questions you may be asking yourself about Type 2 Diabetes, click on this link... Natural Diabetes Treatments
Clicking on this link will help you to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes Solutions... Beverleigh Piepers RN... the Diabetes Detective.
Beverleigh Piepers is the author of this article. This article can be used for reprint on your website provided all the links in the article are complete and active. Copyright (c) 2010 - All Rights Reserved Worldwide
Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beverleigh_H_Piepers
CloseMLA Style Citation:Piepers, Beverleigh H.".".25 Jan. 2011EzineArticles.com.3 Feb. 2011
Piepers, B. H. (2011, January 25). . Retrieved February 3, 2011, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Should-Type-2-Diabetics-Test-Their-HbA1c-at-Home?&id=5757815Chicago Style Citation:
Piepers, Beverleigh H. "." EzineArticles.com. http://ezinearticles.com/?Type-2-Diabetes---Should-Type-2-Diabetics-Test-Their-HbA1c-at-Home?&id=5757815CloseRecommend This ArticleFrom:To:Message:
Send
Most Recent EzineArticles from the Health-and-Fitness:Diabetes Category:
Type 2 Diabetes - Taking Care Of Your Feet and Preventing Toenail Fungus!Major Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes and Its TreatmentDiabetic Meal Planning - The BasicsA Quick Guide to Diabetic Foot CareFood For DiabeticsA Protein That Is Responsible for Diabetic StrokeDiabetes and Neuropathy, Be AwareType 2 Diabetes - Reversing Diabetes!Diabetes Reversal Report - Take Back Your Life Now With The Diabetes Reversal ReportIncreased Risk Of High Blood Pressure May Be Linked To Vitamin D DeficiencyAre You At Risk For Diabetes? Symptoms of Pre-DiabetesType 2 Diabetes - Some Suggestions About Drinking Alcohol When You Have Diabetes!How To Prevent And Reverse DiabetesThe Incredible Benefits of Exercise For DiabeticsThe Hard to Avoid Complications of DiabetesMore...More Related EzineArticles:
Diabetes TestingDiabetes- Getting Down to the BasicsBasic Facts About Type One DiabetesHBA1C Blood Test - Diabetes Testing That WorksWhat is a Normal Blood Sugar Level? Tips For DiabeticsMost Viewed EzineArticles in the Health-and-Fitness:Diabetes Category (60 days)
Foods a Diabetic Should Stay Away FromGood Fruits for Diabetes - Which Fruits Are Good for Diabetics?Foods to Eat for Diabetes - 5 Good Foods to ChooseDiabetes Diet Tips - The One Type Of Food To Reverse Diabetes With Diet!Diabetes - Foods To Eat And Avoid To Conquer Diabetes Naturally Without Drugs!10 Snack Ideas for DiabeticsType 2 Diabetes - Does Alcohol Really Affect Your Blood Sugar Level?Type 2 Diabetes - Foods That Help Fight Diabetes!How to Cure Diabetes Without MedicineLow Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) Symptoms - Warning Signs of DiabetesMore...Most Published EzineArticles in the Health-and-Fitness:Diabetes Category (60 days)
Diabetes Diet Tips - The One Type Of Food To Reverse Diabetes With Diet!Diabetes - Foods To Eat And Avoid To Conquer Diabetes Naturally Without Drugs!Natural Diabetes Cure - Find Out How To Naturally Control Diabetes Without Drugs!Control Type 2 Diabetes Without Drugs - Here Is How To Treat Diabetes The Natural Way!What If Your Cure for Diabetes Was So Simple You'd Wonder Why Most Experts Hadn't Told You?Type 2 Diabetes - Diet Plans That Can Help Control Blood Sugar Levels and Your Weight!Cure Diabetes You Don't Need To Sign Up for The Life Sentence Others Have Reversed Their DiabetesCharting Your DiabetesType 2 Diabetes - Why Are There So Many Diabetics?Top 15 Healthy Tips for Managing Diabetes During the HolidaysMore...This article has been viewed 55 time(s).
Article Submitted On: January 25, 2011
© EzineArticles.com - All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
View the Original article
No comments:
Post a Comment