Asked by: Twanna Wetzold
medical health diabetes

What do a1c numbers mean?

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Specifically, the A1C test measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar (glycated). The higher your A1C level, the poorer your blood sugar control and the higher your risk of diabetes complications.


Beside this, what is a dangerous level of a1c?

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.

Also Know, how can I get my a1c down quickly? Here are six ways to lower your A1C:
  1. Make a plan. Take stock of your goals and challenges.
  2. Create a diabetes management plan. If you have diabetes, create a diabetes management plan with your doctor.
  3. Track what you eat.
  4. Eat a healthy diet.
  5. Set a weight loss goal.
  6. Get moving.

Keeping this in view, what is a good a1c level?

An A1C level below 5.7 percent is considered normal. An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent signals prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when the A1C is over 6.5 percent. For many people with type 2 diabetes, the goal is to lower A1C levels to a healthier percentage.

What does a a1c of 6.0 mean?

The A1C test result can be up to half a percent higher or lower than the actual percentage. That means if your A1C is 6, it might indicate a range from 5.5 to 6.5. Some people may have a blood glucose test that indicates diabetes but their A1C is normal, or vice versa.

Related Question Answers

Chenyu Schmiedeken

Professional

What does it mean when your a1c is 15?

If your A1C level is between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, you have prediabetes (also called impaired fasting glucose), which means you have a high risk of developing diabetes in the future. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate occasions shows that you have diabetes.

Enetz Kacirek

Professional

Does a high a1c always mean diabetes?

A1c reflects average blood sugars over 2 to 3 months, and through studies like DCCT and UKPDS, higher A1c levels have been shown to be associated with the risk of certain diabetes complications (eye, kidney, and nerve disease).

Tamou Feldpausch

Professional

How high is too high for a1c?

Hemoglobin A1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4% mean you have a higher chance of getting diabetes. Levels of 6.5% or higher mean you have diabetes.

Gavril Friedsam

Explainer

What does it mean if your a1c is 11?

The A1C test measures your average blood glucose during the previous 2–3 months, but especially during the previous month. For people without diabetes, the normal A1C range is 4–6%. That may be a hard target to hit, but it is important to try because the lower your A1C, the lower your health risk.

Kaley Tikaram

Explainer

What should your a1c be if you are over 65?

The key measure of diabetes control is hemoglobin A1c. For healthy over 65ers with long life expectancy, the target should be 7.0 – 7.5%. For those with “moderate comorbidity” (so-so health) and a life expectancy of less than 10 years the target should be 7.5 – 8.0%.

Herenia Grassl

Explainer

Does apple cider vinegar lower a1c?

“For example, there was one small study done in rats showing that apple cider vinegar helped lower LDL and A1C levels. Research from 2004 found that taking 20 grams (equivalent to 20 mL) of apple cider vinegar diluted in 40 mL of water, with 1 teaspoon of saccharine, could lower blood sugar after meals.

Badri Cadavez

Pundit

What does an a1c of 9 mean?

Having a high A1C could mean that you've had high blood sugars for the past three months. Having high blood sugars over an extended period of time deteriorates blood vessels and nerves. For example, an A1C of 9 could indicate an average blood sugar level measured on a meter anywhere from 170 to 249.

Andeka Pungs

Pundit

Does a1c go up with age?

OBJECTIVE—Although glycemic levels are known to rise with normal aging, the nondiabetic A1C range is not age specific. The association of A1C with age was similar when restricted to the subset of FOS subjects with NGT and after adjustments for sex, BMI, fasting glucose, and 2-h postload glucose values.

Donvina Mauriz

Pundit

Does metformin lower a1c?

Metformin is very effective at controlling blood glucose and lowers A1c levels by as much as 1.5% at maximum doses. By itself, metformin does not usually cause low blood glucose.

Zhirong Beriayn

Pundit

Can you reverse Type 2 diabetes?

Although there's no cure for type 2 diabetes, studies show it's possible for some people to reverse it. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and hold normal blood sugar levels without medication. This doesn't mean you're completely cured. Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease.

Charifa Basora

Pundit

What foods to eat to lower a1c quickly?

Eat Whole Foods
Choose whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, instead of juices to help keep your blood sugar from spiking. When you eat an apple or an orange, for example, you're consuming fiber, which helps to slow down how quickly your body absorbs the sugar.

Janel Schmidle

Teacher

Is there an over the counter a1c test?

A1c home test kits allow you to check your hemoglobin A1C levels at home, in between visits to your doctor. You can use these tests whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Home A1c tests do not take the place of daily glucose testing.

Suman Abdrahimov

Teacher

What causes a1c to rise?

Your body produces a hormone called insulin which moves sugar from your blood to your cells. If you have too much sugar in your blood, your cells cannot absorb sugar as well as they should. This is called insulin resistance and is one cause of high blood sugar and high A1C levels.

Vojtech Rosenstern

Teacher

What happens when a1c is too high?

Having too much sugar in the blood for long periods of time can cause serious health problems if it's not treated. Hyperglycemia can damage the vessels that supply blood to vital organs, which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, kidney disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.

Balduino Korste

Teacher

What are the long term effects of taking metformin?

The more common side effects of metformin include:
  • heartburn.
  • stomach pain.
  • nausea or vomiting.
  • bloating.
  • gas.
  • diarrhea.
  • constipation.
  • weight loss.

Maamar Celda

Reviewer

What can I take instead of metformin?

People who do not like the side effects of metformin can ask their doctor about other options.
  • Prandin (repaglinide)
  • Canagliflozin (Invokana)
  • Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
  • Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
  • Actos (pioglitazone)
  • Herbal options.

Jerald Mendabia

Reviewer

Is metformin hard on the kidneys?

Metformin does not cause kidney damage. If your kidneys are not functioning properly, metformin can build up in your system and cause a condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is when there is a dangerous amount of lactic acid in the body.

Abdurrahman Alzueta

Reviewer

Why do you get different blood sugar readings on different fingers?

Contamination of the fingers is a common culprit in blood sugar reading variability. That's because it only takes a little bit of food residue on your hands to impact blood glucose levels. To ensure this doesn't sway the results, wash both hands thoroughly before testing. And don't rely on alcohol swabs.

Arantxazu Lapoo

Reviewer

Does weight loss lower a1c?

Weight loss can help reduce insulin resistance. Weight loss can help your insulin and diabetes medicines work better. If you are overweight, losing just 5 to 10% of your body weight will improve your diabetes control. It may also lower your A1C number.