Standard glucose tests only measure blood sugar levels at the time the sample is collected. This HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c) test measures your average blood sugar level over an extended period (8-12 weeks) and is a useful tool for screening for prediabetes and diabetes.
Knowing your average blood sugar levels serves as a critical indicator of your health. Consistently elevated blood sugar levels often indicate prediabetes and diabetes: a serious disease that can ultimately affect the health and function of other parts of the body including your nervous system, cardiovascular system, eyes and kidneys.
Preparation: No special preparation needed.
Measures the average amount of glucose in your blood over an extended period (typically 8-12 weeks).
More than 100 million Americans have diabetes or prediabetes, and 8.5 million aren’t aware they have diabetes.
It is estimated that 8 in 10 people do not realize they have prediabetes which can cause complications that build up over time. Prediabetes, often reversible with healthy lifestyle changes, can cause health complications if left untreated or unmanaged.1
Without taking action, many people with prediabetes go on to develop Type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions or diseases.
Studies show that moderate weight loss and exercise can delay, or even prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes among high-risk adults.
The American Diabetes Association recommends prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes screening for anyone 35 years of age or older.2,3
The American Diabetes Association recommends prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes screening for anyone 35 years of age or older.2,3
It's also recommended for those who are overweight or obese and who have at least one of the following: a history of high blood pressure and/or cardiovascular disease or a first-degree relative with diabetes. Individuals with certain ethnic backgrounds (e.g., African American, Native American, Asian American, Latino, Pacific Islander). Individuals with low HDL cholesterol (<35) and /or Triglycerides at a level >250. Women with a history of diabetes during pregnancy. Women who have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).³
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Prediabetes & Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Reviewed October 30, 2022. Accessed December 13, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention/about-prediabetes-type-2/
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The ADA’s 2022 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Update. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Updated February 23, 2022. Accessed December 9, 2022. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/ada-2022-standards-of-medical-care-in-diabetes-update
3. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022. Diabetes Care. 2022 Jan 1;45(Suppl 1):S17-S38. doi: 10.2337/dc22-S002.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manage Blood Sugar. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Reviewed September 30, 2022. Accessed August 22, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/
<p>1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Prediabetes & Type 2 Diabetes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Reviewed October 30, 2022. Accessed December 13, 2022. <a title="About Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes" href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention/about-prediabetes-type-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes-prevention/about-prediabetes-type-2/</a></p> <p>2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. The ADA’s 2022 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Update. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Updated February 23, 2022. Accessed December 9, 2022. <a href="https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/ada-2022-standards-of-medical-care-in-diabetes-update" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="The ADA 2022 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes Update">https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/professionals/diabetes-discoveries-practice/ada-2022-standards-of-medical-care-in-diabetes-update</a></p> <p>3. American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022. <i>Diabetes Care</i>. 2022 Jan 1;45(Suppl 1):S17-S38. doi: 10.2337/dc22-S002.</p> <p>4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manage Blood Sugar. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Reviewed September 30, 2022. Accessed August 22, 2023. <a title="Manage Blood Sugar" href="https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/</a></p>
View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.
Blood glucose levels indicate the amount of sugar in your blood at a given time. Consistently high blood glucose levels may be a sign of diabetes. A1c measures the average amount of glucose in your blood over an extended period (typically 8-12 weeks), providing better insight of whether your blood sugar levels have been on track over the last few months.
Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.
Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order. If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.
If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.
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