Diabetes & Heart Disease
For more information:
Understanding the A1c Test
It’s called the A1C test, and it’s a powerhouse.
It can identify prediabetes, which raises your risk for diabetes. It can be used to diagnose diabetes. And it's used to monitor how well your diabetes treatment is working over time. It's also a critical step in forming your game plan to manage diabetes with your diabetes care team.
The big picture: monitoring treatment
This relatively simple blood test can tell you a lot. The test results give you a picture of your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications. Your doctor will tell you how often you need the A1C test, but usually you’ll have the test at least twice a year if you’re meeting your treatment goals. If you're not meeting your goals or you change treatments, you may need to get an A1C test more often.
So, what do the numbers mean?
When it comes to the numbers, there's no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person's age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else's. The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%.
A1C test results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. The A1C test can also be used for diagnosis, based on the following guidelines:
- If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range.
- If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.
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| https://reporting.onedrop.today/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/A1C-infographic.pdf |
Diabetes Education & Support
Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California, San Francisco
https://dtc.ucsf.edu/
UCSF Diabetes Clinic at Parnassus
https://www.ucsfhealth.org/clinics/diabetes-clinic-at-parnassus
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services help people with diabetes learn how to take the best care of themselves. Ask your doctor for a referral to DSMES services to help you manage your diabetes.
How will DSMES help me?
When you learn that you have diabetes, your first question might be, “What can I eat?” DSMES will answer this question and many others. Your first step should be ask your doctor to refer you for DSMES. If your doctor does not talk to you about these services, bring it up during your visit.
DSMES services include a health care team who will teach you how to stay healthy and how to make what you learn a regular part of your life.
DSMES services will help you:
- Make better decisions about your diabetes.
- Work with your health care team to get the support you need.
- Understand how to take care of yourself and learn the skills to:
- Eat healthy.
- Be active.
- Check your blood sugar (glucose).
- Take your medicine.
- Solve problems.
- Cope with the emotional side of diabetes.
- Reduce your risk of other health problems.
Why is DSMES important?
- People who have the knowledge and support to manage their diabetes are healthier than those who do not.
- Learning how to control your diabetes will save money and time, and help you have fewer emergency and hospital visits.
- Knowing how and when to take your medication, how to monitor your blood sugar (glucose), and how to take care of yourself, helps you manage your diabetes better.
- Managing your diabetes will help you avoid or delay serious health complications.
- The skills you learn will help you take better care of yourself. Diabetes management starts with you.
It’s important to go for DSMES services when you first find out you have diabetes so you can learn how to take care of yourself. However, there are three other times DSMES can help you. Read about them in the table below.
| When Do You Need DSMES? | Why? |
|---|---|
| When you first find out that you have diabetes | When you’re first diagnosed, you may not know where to begin. DSMES can give you the information and support to start managing your diabetes. |
| During yearly follow-up visits with your doctor | Check on your progress and get help to prevent complications. |
| When new situations affect the way you take care of yourself | New events or conditions in your life can affect your diabetes. Examples include diagnosis of a new health condition, a change in your mobility, depression, or money problems. |
| When other life changes occur that affect the way you take care of yourself | Major life changes can affect your diabetes. Examples of life changes include a change in your living situation, your doctors or insurance plan, or your job. |
How can I find DSMES services?
Your doctor may give you a referral to a specific program and a number to call. If your doctor doesn’t refer you to specific services, go to the Find a Diabetes Education Program in Your Area website. This website lists DSMES services recognized by the American Diabetes Association or accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
Will my insurance cover the cost of these services?
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover up to 10 hours of diabetes education the first year of diagnosis. After the first year, your coverage may be different. Contact your insurance provider for more information.
Who is my health care team?
Your health care team includes diabetes educators—such as, doctors, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, and other health can providers—who have special training and experience. Your health care team will help you learn how to take care of yourself and manage your diabetes.
Where can I learn more about DSMES?
Visit the American Association of Diabetes Educators website to learn more about what a diabetes educator and DSMES can do for you.
Related information
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Toolkit
This toolkit provides resources and tools to assist state health departments and their partners in planning and implementing activities to increase the use of DSMES programs, focusing on access, health care provider referrals, and reimbursement.
For more information:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/education.html
