In many National City homes, diabetes is a familiar word: a grandmother who checks her sugar before breakfast, an uncle who was told his number is "a little high." If that sounds like your family, an A1C test in National City is a simple way to learn where you stand. It is one blood draw with no fasting, and it shows whether your blood sugar is normal, in the prediabetes range or in the diabetes range.
Diabetes Risk in Latino and Filipino Families
National City is home to large Latino and Filipino communities, along with Navy families and working households of every background. Research points to higher diabetes risk in both communities. The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a National Institutes of Health study of more than 16,000 adults in four U.S. communities, including San Diego, found diabetes in 16.9% of Hispanic and Latino adults and 18.3% of adults of Mexican background. Of those with diabetes, 41.3% did not know it. A CDC-led analysis estimated that lifetime risk of diagnosed diabetes exceeds 50% for Hispanic men and women, and the CDC lists being Hispanic or Latino as a risk factor, noting that some Asian American people also have a higher risk.
For Filipino Americans, California data tell a similar story. Using the California Health Interview Survey, researchers found that non-obese Filipino Americans had 2.8 times the odds of diabetes of non-obese non-Hispanic white adults, even after accounting for other known risk factors. A study in the CDC journal Preventing Chronic Disease found that Filipino adults in California were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes an estimated 8.4 years earlier than non-Hispanic white adults.
A higher rate in a community is not a diagnosis for anyone in it. It does mean that waiting for symptoms is a weak plan, especially if a parent, brother or sister already has type 2 diabetes.
Why Diabetes Can Appear at a Lower Weight
Many people assume diabetes mostly affects people who are heavy, and that belief can delay a diagnosis. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) explains that most adults are considered overweight at a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, but Asian Americans are considered overweight at 23 or higher. A Filipino adult whose weight looks "normal" on a standard chart may already carry extra risk.
The pattern is not limited to Filipino families. In the HCHS/SOL study, 9.8% of Hispanic and Latino adults with a BMI under 25 had diabetes. Weight still matters, but a reassuring number on the scale is not a clean bill of health.
Type 2 diabetes also tends to stay quiet. The CDC notes that its symptoms often take several years to develop, and some people never notice any. NIDDK recommends routine testing if you have risk factors such as:
- Age 35 or older
- Being American Indian, Black or African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, or Pacific Islander
- Overweight or obesity plus at least one other risk factor
- A history of gestational diabetes
The CDC also lists having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes as a risk factor.
A1C, Fasting Glucose and What Each Test Shows
Both tests measure blood sugar, but over very different time frames, according to the CDC:
- A1C test: your average blood sugar over the past two to three months, with no fasting.
- Fasting blood sugar test: your level after an overnight fast.
The A1C measures the percentage of red blood cells carrying sugar-coated hemoglobin, as the CDC explains, using a sample drawn from a vein in your arm, per MedlinePlus.
When A1C May Be Less Accurate
NIDDK notes that A1C can be unreliable for people of African, Mediterranean or Southeast Asian descent, or with relatives who have sickle cell anemia or a thalassemia. That is worth raising in Filipino families, since the Philippines is in Southeast Asia. Very low iron, recent blood loss, kidney failure and liver disease can also skew results. If any apply, tell your clinician, who may use a different type of A1C test or a fasting blood sugar test instead.
Understanding Your A1C Range
The CDC and NIDDK agree on these A1C bands:
- Below 5.7%: normal
- 5.7% to 6.4%: prediabetes
- 6.5% or higher: diabetes
The same sources set these fasting blood sugar bands:
- 99 mg/dL or lower: normal
- 100 to 125 mg/dL: prediabetes
- 126 mg/dL or higher: diabetes
A prediabetes result is not diabetes. It means your blood sugar has run higher than it should, raising your chance of type 2 diabetes, and it is the point where a structured lifestyle program can bring that chance down. NIDDK notes that your doctor will usually use a second test to confirm a diabetes diagnosis. A single high reading starts the conversation. It does not settle it.
Your A1C Test in National City: How Often to Retest and What to Do Next
The CDC recommends a baseline A1C test if you are over 45, or younger with overweight and other risk factors. After that:
- Normal result: your clinician sets a retest schedule based on your age and risk factors.
- Prediabetes: repeat the A1C every 1 to 2 years.
- Diabetes: test at least twice a year, or more often if your care plan calls for it.
If you have prediabetes, ask about the National Diabetes Prevention Program. It runs for a year, focuses on lasting habits, and the CDC reports it is proven to cut type 2 diabetes risk in half.
If your result is in the diabetes range, follow up with a primary care clinician to confirm the diagnosis and set a treatment plan. Repeat A1C tests then track how well treatment is working.
If you want an A1C test in National City, Palm Urgent Care, National City offers lab testing, physical exams and diagnostics. The hemoglobin A1C test serves as both a prediabetes test and a diabetes screen, so call ahead to confirm it is available on site. If it is not, a provider can evaluate you and, if needed, refer you. Read our guide to lab testing at urgent care, or browse all of our services.
Symptoms That Should Not Wait
Do not wait for a routine screen if you notice symptoms the CDC links to diabetes: frequent urination, increased thirst and hunger, losing weight without trying, fatigue, feeling irritable or moody, blurry vision, or frequent urinary tract or yeast infections.
When to Go to the ER or Call 911
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that the CDC warns can be life-threatening. Go to the emergency room or call 911 right away for any of these warning signs:
- Blood sugar that stays at 300 mg/dL or higher
- A fruity smell on your breath
- Vomiting that keeps you from holding down food or fluids
- Difficulty breathing
- Several DKA symptoms together, such as rapid, deep breathing, a dry mouth and skin, a flushed face, belly pain or extreme fatigue
Get emergency care, not a routine lab visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have diabetes if you are not overweight?
Yes. NIDDK considers Asian Americans overweight at a BMI of 23, not 25, and in a large NIH study, 9.8% of Hispanic and Latino adults with a BMI under 25 had diabetes.
Do I need to fast before an A1C test?
No. The CDC says fasting is not needed for an A1C test. A fasting blood sugar test does require an overnight fast, and you may need to fast if other tests are done at the same visit.
Is an A1C test or a fasting glucose test better?
Neither is best for everyone. A1C shows a two to three month average without fasting, while a fasting test shows one morning. Very low iron, kidney failure and inherited hemoglobin variants can affect A1C, so your clinician may use a different type of A1C test or a fasting blood sugar test instead.
Where can I get an A1C test near me in National City?
Palm Urgent Care, National City, at 101 N Highland Ave, Suite F, offers lab testing. Call ahead to confirm the hemoglobin A1C test is available on site. Visit the location page for hours, coverage and directions.
Ready to know your number? Ask about an A1C test in National City at Palm Urgent Care, 101 N Highland Ave, Suite F, and call ahead to confirm availability. For hours, coverage and directions, visit our National City location page.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice from a licensed clinician.