Diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to serious medical complications, and overall reduction in quality of life. However, the key word is “can”, because it’s in your power to control the disease, and even send it into remission. Many people successfully live with diabetes.
One of the methods of dealing with diabetes is having your A1C level checked, particularly if you have concerns that a type 2 diagnosis could in fact be type 1. In this article, we’ll explain the A1C test, as well as how and when you should have it done.
What is A1C Testing?
The A1C test is a blood test that gives data about your normal degrees of blood glucose, additionally called blood sugar, in the course of recent months. The A1C test can be utilized to analyze type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Other names for the A1C test are hemoglobin A1C, HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin, or glycohemoglobin test.
The A1C test is important for managing diabetes. The way it works is that glucose is tied to hemoglobin in your platelets, and so the A1C test gauges the amount of hemoglobin with glucose attached, compared to your normal blood glucose levels in recent months.
The A1C test result is calculated and reported for as a percentage. The higher the rate, the higher your blood glucose levels have been. A typical A1C level is underneath 5.7%.
Some ways to lower A1C naturally are:
- Measure your food into healthy portions and avoid overindulging in starchy carbs. However, you still want carbs that are high in fibers and nutrients.
- Eat a healthy mixture of low-starch vegetables like carrots, greens, and tomatoes, and lean proteins like chicken or tofu.
- Tweak your weight loss goals. It’s true that diabetes can sometimes cause weight gain, but doctors often recommend you only need to lose around 5% to 10% of your current weight.
- Don’t focus exclusively on cardiovascular exercise, try to mix in strength and weight training as well. Aerobics and resistance training can lower your A1C levels if you set a routine, and stick to it.
Why get the test done?
- Testing can assist doctors to discover prediabetes and counsel you about any changes in your lifestyle to assist you with postponing or forestall type 2 diabetes. In the event that you have prediabetes, you have a higher danger of creating diabetes and cardiovascular infection.
- To affirm a diabetes analysis, your physician will probably take a look at the aftereffects of two blood tests managed on various days, either two A1C tests or the A1C test in addition to another diabetes blood test.
- The after-effects of your initial A1C test(s) likewise help build up your baseline A1C level. Work with you to screen the infection and help settle on treatment choices to forestall any complexities.
On the off chance that you have hazard factors for prediabetes or diabetes, talk with your doctor about whether you should be tested.
A1C levels
Individuals without diabetes generally have an A1C level of between 4.5 to 5.6%. A1C levels of 5.7 to 6.4% on two separate events signify prediabetes. If your A1C levels are 6.5% or higher on two separate tests, it shows you have diabetes.
Discuss with your doctor about the suitable A1C level for you. Numerous individuals who have diabetes should focus on customized A1C levels under 7%.
How often should you have A1C done?
Your doctor will disclose to you how frequently you need the A1C test, but typically you'll have the test at least two times every year in case you're meeting your treatment objectives. In case you're not meeting your objectives or you change medicines, you may need to get an A1C test all the more frequently.
