Call us at 877-661-6230 4 Discrimination is against the law. Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP) follows State and Federal civil rights laws. CCHP does not unlawfully discriminate, exclude people, or treat them differently because of sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental disability, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation. CCHP provides: ● Free aids and services to people with disabilities to help them communicate better, such as: ✓Qualified sign language interpreters ✓written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats) ● Free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: ✓qualified interpreters ✓information written in other languages. If you need these services, contact CCHP between 8 AM–5 PM by calling 877-661-6230. If you cannot hear or speak well, please call TTY: 711. Upon request, this document can be made available to you in braille, large print, audio cassette, or electronic form. To obtain a copy in one of these alternative formats, please call or write to: Contra Costa Health Plan 595 Center Ave., Suite 100, Martinez, CA 94553 877-661-6230 (TTY: 711) Nondiscrimination notice diabetes Understanding A1c Living well with type 2 diabetes means controlling your blood sugar. There’s a simple blood test that can help you manage it. It’s called the A1c test. With type 2 diabetes, your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin. Or your body may not use it the right way. Insulin is a hormone. It usually helps your cells store and use glucose that comes from food. Your cells turn glucose into energy to fuel your body. When you have diabetes, your cells can’t absorb glucose. It stays in your blood. Too much glucose in your blood harms your cells. Plus, your body isn’t getting the energy it needs. Enter the A1c test. It is also called the hemoglobin A1c test or Hb A1c. Hemoglobin is a protein in your blood. The test measures how much glucose is attached to this protein. Your doctor may order an A1c test to find out if you have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. The test can also show how well your diabetes treatment is working. The A1c looks at your average glucose levels over a few months. The results are shown as a percentage. A higher percentage means a higher glucose level. For most adults with type 2 diabetes, a result of less than 7% is the goal. Ask your doctor what your target percentage should be. To manage your diabetes, you may need to have this test 2 or 3 times a year. It depends on your treatment plan and goals. The A1c test is just one part of your overall care. You’ll still need to check your blood sugar and see your doctor regularly. Getting enough exercise and eating a healthy diet are essential too. Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Diabetes Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health
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