WHAT IS A DANGEROUS LEVEL OF A1C?
Table of Content
- What does A1C measure?
- A1C blood sugar tests
- why is the A1C test important?
4. Symptoms of diabetes that may prompt an A1C test
5. Risks of the test
6. IN SEARCH OF: THE HIGHEST DIABETES A1C IN HISTORY
7. AN A1C OF 8.7 IS OF CONCERN
What can you do to improve your A1C levels?
HEALTHY A1C GOAL
What does A1C measure?
You may be wondering what makes this test different, especially if you already check your blood sugar multiple times a day. The A1C test goes by a few names, including glycosylated haemoglobin, glycated haemoglobin, or haemoglobin A1C (HbA1c). All of these names hint at what is being measured — the amount of sugar (glucose) attached to haemoglobin.
Haemoglobin is a protein found inside red blood cells, and its job is to carry oxygen to the lungs and all of the cells in your body. Glucose enters your bloodstream and sticks, or “glycates,” with the haemoglobin. The higher your blood glucose, the more sugar-coated or “glycated” the haemoglobin becomes.
Since the lifecycle of a red blood cell is about four months, the A1C percentage reflects average blood sugar levels detected on haemoglobin cells of varying ages — days, weeks, or months old. If your blood glucose control has generally been steady, your haemoglobin cells will not be highly sugar-coated, or “glycated,” leading to a lower A1C value. SEE MORE
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The A1C test measures the percentage of glucose bound haemoglobin in a person’s blood.
According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH), this gives a general picture of a person’s blood glucose levels over the past 2–3 months.
Abnormal A1C test results do not necessarily mean a person has diabetes. A doctor will confirm these findings with another blood glucose test.
The doctor may recommend running more tests, such as blood work, to rule out other conditions that can affect blood sugar levels.
When should a person get an A1C blood sugar test?
The CDCTrusted Source recommends that people with diabetes get an A1C test at least twice a year.
Doctors use A1C results to monitor how well a person responds to a certain glucose management regime. They can also use A1C tests to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes.
A1C blood sugar tests
A1C is a blood test performed by a healthcare professional to measure an average of blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. If you have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes, you have probably had your A1C tested. This is a helpful tool for understanding your overall blood sugar control, allowing you and your healthcare provider to see if there are trends between each visit and evaluate how your current diabetes treatment plan is working.
Since A1C is measured as a percentage, this value can be harder to interpret as compared to a blood sugar value, like the one you’re used to seeing on a blood glucose meter. You can use an A1C calculator to give you a sense of how an A1C percentage correlates to an average blood sugar value and vice versa. Before you use the calculator, it may be helpful to understand what A1C tells you and what affects it
WHY THE A1C TEST IS IMPORTANT
The A1c is a blood test done in a lab that shows your average blood sugar for the past 3 months. Other names for this test are glycosylated haemoglobin, glycohemoglobin, haemoglobin A1c, and HbA1c. How the A1c Test Works The glucose that the body doesn't store or use for energy stays in the blood and attaches to red blood cells, which live in the bloodstream for about 4 months. The lab test measures the amount of glucose attached to the red blood cells. The amount is the A1c and is shown as a percentage. Your A1c number can give you and your health care team a good idea of how well you've controlled your blood sugar over the previous 2 to 3 months. When you get your A1c result from a Kaiser Permanente lab, you'll also see another number called the estimated Average Glucose, or eAG. Understanding the eAG Your estimated Average Glucose (eAG) number is calculated from the result of your A1c test. Like the A1c, the eAG shows your average blood sugars over the previous 2 to 3 months. Instead of a percentage, the eAG is in the same units (mg/dl) as your blood glucose meter. The chart shows the relationship between the A1c percentage and the eAG. If A1c % is: Your eAG is: 6 126 6.5 140 7 154 7.5 169 8 183 8.5 197 9 212 9.5 226 10 240 10.5 255 11 269 11.5 283 12 298 What the Numbers Mean The A1c and eAG reflect your average blood sugar over a period of time. These numbers help you and your doctor see how well your treatment plan is working. The higher your A1c and eAG numbers are, the higher your chances of having long-term health problems caused by consistently high blood sugar levels. These problems include heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, vision problems, and numbness in your legs or feet. The lower your A1c and eAG numbers, the lower you. SEE MORE
Symptoms of diabetes that may prompt an A1C test
As mentioned by the NIH, a doctor may recommend an A1C test if a person shows signs of poor glucose control, diabetes, or prediabetes.
Warning signs can include:
increased thirst
increased urination, especially at night
increased hunger
extreme fatigue
recurring infections
numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
slow healing sores
blurry vision
Doctors may also recommend an A1C test for people who have the following risk factors for prediabetes:
more than 45 years of age
family history of diabetes
history of gestational diabetes
overweight or obesity
sedentary lifestyle
preexisting health conditions, such as high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure
history of hormonal disorders, such as Cushing’s syndrome
history of sleep apnea
long-term use of glucocorticoids, antipsychotics, and certain medications for HIV
What happens during the test?
Most people can take an A1C test at any time without preparing beforehand. However, a doctor may sometimes request that a person avoids eating or drinking for 8 hours before the test.
Women who are pregnant may need to drink a sugary beverage 1 hour before the test.
A doctor or nurse will collect a blood sample, usually from a vein in the arm or hand. They will send the sample to a laboratory for analysis.
Risks of the test
A1C tests are safe and reliable methods of measuring a person’s blood sugar levels. These tests carry a low risk of complications.
However, people may experience temporary pain or bruise at the injection site. Using an unclean needle or lancet can lead to an infection.
How to keep blood glucose levels normal
A doctor can make dietary and lifestyle recommendations that address an individual’s needs. Doctors can also prescribe insulin and other medication that help stabilize blood sugar levels.
People can use the following tips to keep their blood glucose within a healthy range:
closely monitor blood sugar levels maintain a healthy weight. TO SEE MORE
IN SEARCH OF: THE HIGHEST DIABETES A1C IN HISTORY
My most recent A1C was nothing to be proud of, but I consoled myself with the thought that it was hardly the worst in history. That got me wondering: What was the all-time worst A1C? Who holds this dubious record, and how high is it possible to go? I decided to pound the pavement and try to find out. So where to start when looking for a diabetes record? Well, with the Guinness Book of World Records, of course. But oddly, the Guinness people don’t seem to have any listings related to A1Cs. They do, however, report that Michael Patrick Buonocore survived a blood sugar of 2,656 mg/dL upon admittance to the ER in East Stroudsburg, PA, on March 23, 2008. Michael was T1 kiddo at the time, and that record-high sugar level was part of his diagnosis experience. So does Michael also hold the record for top A1C? No. Because while he’s living (thankfully) proof that stratospheric blood sugar levels are possible, a sky-scraping A1C requires both altitude and time. Remember that A1Cs provide a three-month average of our blood sugars. Individual high BG readings, even crazy-high ones, don’t alter the test as much as you’d think if they last only a short time. Because type 1 in kids Michael’s age hit so quickly, I figured his A1C would have been rather middle of the road. It takes a slow burn to make an A1C boil. But just to be sure, I reached out to his parents, who tell me his A1C was 11.9 at diagnosis. Higher than I expected, but not too high given the four-digit BG reading. (If his 2,656 had been his average blood sugar for three months, his A1C would have been roughly 95! Yes, that’s 95.0, not 9.5).
AN A1C OF 8.7 IS OF CONCERN
I recently saw the following question: My haemoglobin A1c is 8.7 and serum glucose is 126; my doctor said it’s not serious. No medications were prescribed and he will test it again in 6 months. Should I be concerned? My reply: Yes, you should be concerned. An A1C over 7.0 indicates you have diabetes, and a value of 8.7 means diabetes has been out of control during the past few months. The glucose value is right on the edge between prediabetes and diabetes, but in this case, it is not as meaningful as the A1C, as the BG may fluctuate widely when diabetes is present. It’s unclear whether you are younger and skinny, or older and overweight. If younger and skinny, you probably have type 1 diabetes (AKA T1D or T1DM); if older and overweight, probably type 2 diabetes (AKA T2D or T2DM). It’s also unclear from your question whether you have symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive thirst and excessive urination (especially at night, which is called nocturia). Fatigue, vision change, increased likelihood of infection, wounds that won’t heal, irritability, and numb sensation in hands and feet are also on the list of diabetes symptoms. And sometimes there’s uncontrolled hunger and paradoxical loss of weight; these are more common with type 1 diabetes. If you do have any of these symptoms, it was completely inappropriate to sit tight and retest in six months. Whether you reported symptoms or not, you should have been advised to change your meal plan, and test your blood glucose. And to see a diabetes nurse educator and perhaps a dietitian help with these changes. If these folks are Certified Diabetes Educators, it would be even better. Is there a chance that the A1C value was due to something else rather than diabetes? Not really. TO SEE MORE
What can you do to improve your A1C levels?
· Partner with your healthcare provider. Ask if you need changes to your medication, insulin or insulin pump settings. If you haven’t had a recent visit with a Certified Diabetes Educator, ask for a referral so that he/she can recommend small changes that can make a big difference.
· Create routines. Try to test with a blood glucose meter, take medications or insulin, and exercise at about the same time each day. This helps create habits so that you don’t forget your self-care activities and helps your healthcare provider identify patterns in your blood sugars.
· Get more data. Test blood glucose more frequently and make sure to check two hours after the start of a meal as often as possible, not just before meals. These after-meal readings are most closely linked with your A1C number and tell how well your body handled the meal.
· Make course corrections quickly. If you find that you are always having low blood sugar before dinner, add an afternoon snack. If your blood sugar is high, drink lots of water and take a walk (as long as your number is below 250mg/dL, if higher, do not exercise). If you have two readings over 250mg/dL in a row, notify your healthcare provider. Taking action while you are out of range can help you find your way back in target faster.
· Tighten up your carbohydrate counting. Use a kitchen scale to help measure accurate portions of carbohydrate foods. Read labels and use tools that help you carb count, not carb guess. Using an app like Calorie King to look up the exact carb content of foods, and visiting a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for an individualized meal plan and carb counting review can be great steps to help you get on track.
· Reduce stress. Stress can raise blood sugar, so find ways to relax. Take a walk, read a book, laugh with a friend, find a yoga and/or mindfulness class, or visit a therapist for support. This is all part of self-care, especially when you are living with diabetes.
· Increase activity, even in small amounts. Walking for ten minutes after each meal has been shown to improve blood glucose. Be active and keep moving even by walking the dog or cleaning the house.
People often wonder how long it will take to improve their A1C number. By following your diabetes self-care plan, you can improve your A1C by your next three-month check. Your A1C may continue to go down at each visit if you continue to partner with your healthcare provider and follow the tips above.
It’s not helpful to test your A1C more frequently than every three months, and more frequent testing is not always covered by insurance. If you feel like you have followed your healthcare provider’s recommendations but your A1C level is high, don’t take it personally. Again, many factors make diabetes management difficult, and if you continue to work on it, your number will come down.
In summary, the A1C test gives you a picture of your overall glucose levels. There is no bad or good number, just information that helps you and your healthcare provider understand how well your diabetes management plan is working.
Using an A1C calculator can give you an idea of how your A1C translates into an EAG number that you can recognize, using the same unit of measurement as shown on a blood glucose meter. However, remember that A1C goals can be different for each person based on age, treatment goals, access to diabetes supplies, and other health issues, so don’t be afraid to talk with your healthcare professional about setting your unique goals for better diabetes management.
exercise regularly
eat foods with a low glycemic index
increase dietary fibre intake
drink plenty of water
eat regular times and do not skip meals
Learn more about low-glycemic foods here.
People can lower high blood Trusted Source sugar by:
restricting carbohydrate intake
choosing complex carbs over simple carbs
eating more whole grains, no starchy vegetables, and fruit
controlling portion size
exercising regularly
getting plenty of sleep
staying hydrated
People can raise low blood sugar by:
consuming 15 grams of fast-acting carbs, such as glucose tablets or 4 ounces of juice
eating dried fruit or applesauce
eating 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
using a glucose injection as a doctor prescribes
HEALTHY A1C GOAL
Ads by Google Don’t think as unattainable by staring up the steps; you must step up the stairs to achieve. Fit non-diabetic person’s A1C percentage is always within 4.2 to 4.6%. These numbers are only from individuals who is fit, non-obese, active, and on a healthy diet. The A1C result depends upon how well you are maintaining your blood-glucose level. If you are maintaining your blood sugar at an optimal range of 70–85mg/dl (3.9–4.7mmol/l) most of the time, then your A1C be in the normal range of 4.2–4.6%. A1C goal advised by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) A1C goal of 6.5% or less is a more stringent goal. This A1C target is for people who do not experience many hypoglycemia episodes. This may be for individuals who have recently diagnosed with diabetes. A1C goal of 7% is reasonable. This A1C target is for many adults with diabetes who are not pregnant. A1C goal of 7.5% is for children with diabetes (0 to 18 years old). In children, younger than 6 years may be unable to recognize hypoglycemia symptoms. A1C goal of 8% or less is considered a less stringent goal. This A1C target maybe for people with severe hypoglycemia experience. This may be for individuals who have many years of diabetes and who have a low life expectancy. A1C goal advised by the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) A1C goal of 6.5% or less is for type 2 diabetics to lower nephropathy and retinopathy risk further. They must balance against hypoglycemia risk. A1C goal of 7.1–8.5% is for those who have longstanding diabetes with a history of recurrent severe hypoglycemia. And for those who have limited life expectancy. This target is for those who are hard to achieve an A1C ≤of 7%. That too after effective doses of multiple anti-hyperglycemic agents, including intensified basal-bolus insulin therapy. SEE MORE
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