![]() It is estimated that half of the 17 million diabetics in this country are unaware that they have this deadly disease. Over time this results in damage to the kidneys, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels. ![]() If you take those tips seriously, you will surely notice some positive changes in your hemoglobin A1c levels.In persons who have diabetes and pre-diabetes (also known as “borderline” diabetes), the fasting blood sugar concentration is elevated. Say goodbye to sweets and processed foods. Do not exceed your daily calorie limit, or try to eat even a little less if you're overweight. An excess of visceral fat (the fat tissue that surrounds your internal organs) is linked to a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease. Use the BMI calculator to check your current weight and see where you should head to.īMI is the basic indicator, but pay attention also to your waist-hip ratio (use our waist-to-hip ratio calculator, for example). Try to achieve and maintain a normal body weight. You don't have to become an Olympic athlete, but, for example, try to incorporate a few short walks into your normal day. Seek professional help if you feel that this is your weakness. Mention other drugs that you're taking for other conditions – they may influence one another.Ĭheck your blood sugar levels more often and make sure you're using the right interventions to manage it (e.g., the proper dose of insulin or a well-balanced meal). Make sure that you're taking them as the doctor ordered. Here are some useful tips on how to do that:ĭiscuss medication with your diabetologist. If your A1c test shows that your levels are too high, your doctor will tell you to lower them. If this is your result, book an appointment with your doctor immediately! If your A1c level is equal to or higher than 6.5%, you may be diagnosed as diabetic. Diabetic foot, potentially leading to amputation!.Frequent infections, including skin infections and mycoses.High risk of retinopathy and loss of sight.Increased risk of nerve damage (including brain damage) and paresthesia.Risk of chronic kidney disease or even kidney failure.Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases – myocardial infarction (heart attack) or brain stroke.Do not neglect this result, as chronic high blood sugar levels can lead to severe consequences, including: Check out the How to lower A1c? section for some hints. You're at a high risk of diabetes, but there is still hope. If you drifted into the prediabetes group (5.7-6.4%) – that's a red flag. Maintain your healthy habits and keep your blood sugar level low. You already know how to calculate A1c levels, but what should you do with the result? If your level is less than 5.7% – congratulations – this is a normal A1c level, and you have nothing to worry about. This is why your doctor will get more information about your risk of metabolic disorders from an A1c test than from a simple blood sugar level test. To be exact, and to take into consideration the varying lifespans of red blood cells, scientists assume that A1c hemoglobin stays in the body for about 90 days – and, therefore, reflects the last three months of blood sugar levels. Hemoglobin is found inside Red Blood Cells (RBC), so we can assume that it lives for as long as them. You might already know that our red blood cells live, on average, 120 days – or four months. But why is the result not the same as a simple blood sugar level test? Laboratory A1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin that has glucose bound to it. Everybody has some glycated hemoglobin in their bloodstream, and the amount of it increases as your blood sugar levels increase. Although it sounds like the name of a robot, it is actually a special form of hemoglobin where the molecule has a particle of sugar (glucose) attached. Hemoglobin may sound familiar to you – something about oxygen transportation, right? Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is quite close to what you remember from your biology classes.
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