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We scoured the options and found that test kits from LetsGetChecked, Everlywell, Verisana, myLAB Box, DTILaboratories, and PTS Diagnostics are the best for monitoring A1C levels at home.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 37.1 million people ages 18 and older had diabetes in the United States in 2019. More concerning: 8.5 million adults who met the criteria for diabetes hadn’t received a diagnosis.
Diabetes tests, like A1C tests, are useful both as a:
tool to screen or help diagnose prediabetes or diabetes
Your A1C, or HbA1c as it’s sometimes referred to, is like a snapshot of your glucose readings over the past 8 to 12 weeks.
While your blood glucose readings can fluctuate throughout the day, your A1C is an average of these readings. The higher your level, the more at risk you are of having complications from diabetes.
Because of this, it’s important to make sure you’re checking your levels at least twice per year if you’re getting treatment for diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
It’s possible you may want to check your A1C more often if your doctor recommends it.
You can take this test at your doctor’s office, but with advances in telehealth, you now have more options for at-home testing.
Some people do at-home tests as a supplement to routine monitoring. If your goal is to substitute home testing for a test ordered by your doctor, it’s a good idea to first discuss it with them.
We reviewed the type of testing offered and whether testing was done at home or by going to a lab. The variety of these test kits allows for options for every person’s unique needs.
If your A1C levels are outside your target range or you want to discuss your results, make an appointment to talk with a doctor.
High A1C levels may be a sign of an underlying condition or diabetes. This can cause complications and symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, and frequent thirst and urination.
Your doctor may take additional tests, change your medication, or modify your treatment plan.
If you have diabetes and are meeting your treatment goals, visit your doctor every 6 months. If it’s difficult to meet your treatment goals, visit your doctor every 3 months.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), some things can skew results. These include natural fluctuations in your blood glucose level, which can happen when you eat or exercise, and if you’re sick or stressed. These kinds of short-term changes to your blood glucose level are more likely to affect the results of an A1C test.
Certain health conditions, including sickle cell anemia, iron-deficiency anemia, liver disease, and kidney failure can also affect the accuracy of A1C results.
Can race impact A1C accuracy?
Your racial and ethnic background may also affect the accuracy of A1C results. People with African, South and Southeast Asian, and Mediterranean ancestry are more likely to have hemoglobin variants that affect the results of this test.
Your home reading should never be used to diagnose diabetes.
It’s important to use your A1C as part of your diabetes monitoring, but it doesn’t replace daily blood sugar checks.
There are instances when your A1C might not be accurate. Always make sure you’re informing your doctor of your results and any symptoms you may be having.
Last medically reviewed on August 31, 2023
How we reviewed this article:
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