(HealthDay News) -- An A1C test is commonly performed on people with diabetes as a way to help monitor a person's blood sugar over time.

The labtestsonline.org website says doctors may order this test because:

• It can indicate whether your current treatment plan is adequately controlling diabetes.
• It may show that your insulin dose needs to be adjusted.
• It may help newly diagnosed diabetics learn to monitor blood glucose.
• It may be used initially to screen for diabetes.