What Is A1C And How Is It Controlled?

By Stephen Ross


Being healthy is a necessity for those who have high blood sugar. Staying in control of blood glucose levels is always a conquest. Many times, individuals who suffer with sugar diabetes often go through testing. What is A1C testing may be a question that many diabetes sufferers ask their doctors.

Diabetics may be accustomed to performing their own blood sugar testing at home to manage their blood glucose properly. It does not always add a true indication of what is actually going on inside the body. Physicians are finding themselves administering a test that measures blood sugars over a length of three months. The A1C test is an indicator of whether or not a diabetic treatment plan is actually working.

The American Diabetes Association suggests to have A1C testing done twice a year, even if sugar levels have continued to be stable. Some doctors use a finger stick when performing the tests, with results being available after 10 minutes. The test determines if individualized treatment plans are working and what can be changed to make them better. Doctors may choose to run the tests three times a year.

Glycated hemoglobin is measured by measuring the amount of protein in blood cells. When sugar enters in the body it connects to hemoglobin. The more glucose that is present, the more glycated hemoglobin as well.

Levels 5.7 percent or below are considered normal. Levels from 5.7 percent to 6.4 points to pre diabetes. Levels that go beyond 6.5 usually results in a diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes. The main goal is to make sure that A1C levels are lowered and are controlled over a long period of time.

Goals are different for every individual. Different factors can play a huge role. They can include how advanced the diabetes is, age, and even health conditions. One goal that many diabetics choose is to stay under the 7 percent mark. Anything over this level may result in complications that can be devastating. This can include nerve damage, eye issues, and maybe even the loss of limbs.

Although managing diabetes takes a lot of work, it is manageable. The more work a person puts into it, the better ones quality of life will become. The key is to follow a healthy lifestyle. Making the necessary changes will be worthwhile in the end.

Ways to lower A1C levels can start with exercise. It is good to exercise for 3o minutes a day. It doesn't have to be a controlled regime, but it can be done by doing something that is enjoyable. The important thing is to just get moving. Eating right is also very beneficial. Eating the right foods such as lean proteins, fruits and vegetable, and getting rid of processed foods can bring tremendous results.

Skipping meals is not an option when trying to stabilize blood sugar. It may cause a fall in blood sugar levels. Make sure that the physicians plan of treatment is being followed as directed, and continue to monitor blood sugars on a consistent basis. When one truly understand the purpose behind A1C testing, the life that they lead can be a lot better.




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