"Many people with diabetes or prediabetes do not even know they are living with the condition..."
How to monitor your A1C from home
Many of us live with or have a loved one who lives with diabetes daily. It is a condition that affects so many people globally. The following are statistics from the CDC that show just how widespread diabetes is:
- More than 37 million people in the US have diabetes, and 96 million have prediabetes.1
- Worldwide, more than 400 million people are diagnosed with diabetes.2
- 1.5 million people will be diagnosed with diabetes this year in the US.3
In addition, many people with diabetes or prediabetes do not even know they are living with the condition. This is just one reason among many why it is essential to visit your doctor and have bloodwork done regularly.
Risk Factors for Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes, aptly named type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 is a genetic condition that often shows up early in life. So far, there is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 is related to lifestyle and progresses over time. Type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented with lifestyle changes such as losing weight and staying physically fit.
Risk factors for type 1 diabetes include:4
- Family history
- Caucasian ethnicity
- Young age (Although it can develop at any age, it is more likely in children and young adults)
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:4
- Being overweight
- 45 years of age or older
- Are not very physically active
- Have a family member with type 2 diabetes
Prediabetes and Diabetes Symptoms and how it Affects Your Cholesterol
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you may want to consider getting testing for diabetes.
- Frequent urination
- Unquenchable thirst
- Weight loss without trying
- Blurry vision
- Tingling in hands and feet
- Extreme fatigue
- Sores that heal slowly
- Being sick very frequently
Another thing to consider is that diabetes puts you at a higher risk of developing high cholesterol. This is because blood sugar, insulin, and cholesterol all work together in the body; if one is out of range, it affects the others.
High cholesterol puts you at a greater risk for stroke and heart disease. So it is not only necessary to monitor blood sugar when living with diabetes but cholesterol as well.
Why A1C Testing is Crucial
You have probably heard of the A1C test, but do you know why it’s so important? Not only can the A1C test identify prediabetes, but it can diagnose and monitor diabetes as well. This relatively simple blood test is vital when it comes to managing this condition.
Essentially, it gives you an overall look at your blood sugar levels from the past two to three months. If it is high, you are at a greater risk of developing complications from diabetes.
The test is needed two to four times a year to monitor your diabetes correctly. However, it may be required much more often if you are not meeting your treatment goals. And that is the importance of the A1C. To help you know if you are meeting your health goals.
You can even work with your doctor to set an individual goal based on your specific circumstances. This will allow you to modify the management of your diabetes and live the healthiest life possible.
A Simpler Way to Monitor Your A1C
Frequent blood tests are crucial to managing diabetes most effectively. And while checking blood sugar has been made easy with the convenient use of a glucometer, it is less convenient to schedule a doctor’s appointment to check your A1C regularly.
However, with Boomerang’s testing kits, you can now check your A1C from the comfort of your home. The test kit includes a state-of-the-art blood collection device that is virtually painless and easily attaches to your arm. No more worrying about the phlebotomist missing the vein!
Boomerang’s Diabetes Test
Boomerang offers a Diabetes Test that makes monitoring your A1C simple and effective.
After the blood sample is collected, you ship it back to our lab and have digital results delivered to you in 5 business days.
Boomerang’s Diabetes & Heart Health Test
If you are also concerned with heart health and wish to monitor your cholesterol as well, Boomerang offers a combined Diabetes and Heart Health test that will also check your A1C along with your cholesterol level.
Managing your health has never been simpler. No more waiting rooms and bouncing from the doctor’s office to the lab for a blood draw and back again. You can take control of your blood work from your own home, empowering you to make better lifestyle choices and live a healthier life.
References
- Diabetes Fast Facts. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/quick-facts.html#:~:text=More%20than%2037%20million%20people,(and%20may%20be%20underreported). Published September 30, 2022. Accessed September 30, 2022.
- Diabetes. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes. Published September 16, 2022. Accessed September 30, 2022.
- Newly Diagnosed. American Diabetes Association. https://diabetes.org/diabetes/newly-diagnosed. Published September 30, 2022. Accessed September 30, 2022.
- Diabetes. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/index.html. Published August 29, 2022. Accessed September 30, 2022.
