Fact Sheet Highlights Diabetes Blood Test

About 7 million Americans today have diabetes but don’t realize it. This puts them at risk for the serious complications that can arise when diabetes is left untreated.

A new fact sheet from NIH describes a blood test called A1C, which can diagnose type 2 diabetes and even prediabetes. Prediabetes raises your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.

You don’t need to fast before taking the A1C test, so it’s more convenient than other glucose tests often used to diagnose diabetes. The A1C test can also help patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to monitor their blood sugar (glucose) levels.

The new fact sheet covers a wide range of details about the A1C test, including how the test works, other blood tests for type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, the accuracy of blood tests and more.

The A1C Test and Diabetes fact sheet is available at www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis/a1c-test. Or contact NIH’s National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse at 1-800-860-8747 or email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov.