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I do not want to start insulin. My friend who started insulin now has to stay on it forever.
This is true to all patients with type 1 diabetes and partially true to certain people with type 2 diabetes. For patients with type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin and so will need     more
Question Posted:
2010-10-14 14:23
Question: 
What is A1c screening?
Answer: 
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A1c is a test that sums up how much glucose has stuck to part of the hemoglobin during the past 3–4 months.
 
Hemoglobin is a substance in the red blood cells that supplies oxygen to the cells of the body. In general, the AIC goal for patients with diabetes is less than 7%. 
 
Starting in year 2010, A1c can also be used to diagnose diabetes. So an A1c of ≥ 6.5 is considered a diagnosis for diabetes. Like any other diagnostic test for diabetes, it should be repeated to confirm a diagnosis.
 
Answer by: William Hsu, M.D.