If you have good control over diabetes then the good news is that HBA1C can drop by 10%. But if your levels are higher than 7.5 then the drop is slower.
If you, from one day to the next, decreased your daily average blood sugar from 300 mg/dl (16.7 mmol/l) to 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/l), your A1c would decrease from 12% to 6% in around two months. However, it may not be a good idea to lower your A1c so quickly, as I will explain below.
A change (either positive or negative) in A1C percentage of 0.5% is considered clinically significant.
About half are newer cells, ones formed within the last month. So your glucose levels in the last month count for about half of your A1C measure, and cells from the previous 2 to 3 months make up the other half of the measure.
Your HbA1c does not change rapidly because the red blood cells in your circulation last for around 3-4 months. Any increases and decreases in your HbA1c will happen over a period of at least 6 weeks.
What's a normal result for HbA1c? A normal HbA1c result is between 3.5 to 6 per cent (15-42 mmol/mol).
There is a chance of diabetes reversal, and lifestyle modification is a practically feasible strategy for that. With proper health education and counseling, we found compliance to this lifestyle modification better than the adherence to lifelong medications.
For some patients, a return to normal blood sugar levels may come over a few months, while for others, it may take years. "We repeat the A1C test with our prediabetes patients every three or six months, so we can monitor their progress in getting those A1C levels down," Harper says.
If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range. If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.
One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.
What causes high A1c? High A1c is caused by having an elevated blood sugar level over a period of three months. According to the NIH, the most common high A1c causes and risk factors include diabetes, anemia, lack of exercise, and obesity.
Nutrition therapy can reduce glycated hemoglobin (A1c) by 1%–2%, improve serum cholesterol levels and facilitate weight management [4].
Start Strength Training. If you're already walking more throughout the day, add in strength training too. In one study where sedentary overweight or obese adults over age 50 with prediabetes performed resistance training twice a week, 34 percent of participants had normal blood sugar levels after three months.
Here's why: As you shed extra pounds, the insulin in your body lowers your blood sugar levels more efficiently, which will cause your A1c levels to drop over time. In one study, people with type 2 diabetes who lost 5% to 10% of their body weight were three times as likely to lower their A1c by 0.5%.
There is no specific A1c level that makes it necessary for you to be on medication. While an A1c of 6.5% or higher is indicative of diabetes, some people may need to start taking medication for an A1c under 6.5%. And others with an A1c over 6.5% aren't prescribed any medication.
A 1000mg dose of metformin can decrease an A1C level up to 2% over a 3-month period. A1C or hemoglobin A1C is a 3-month average of blood glucose level. For example, if your A1C was 10%, it may drop to 8% in 3 months.
Most people diagnosed with prediabetes develop Type 2 diabetes within 10 years. This means you should have time to prevent this from happening. On the other hand, it takes about three years to reverse prediabetes.
Can You Have High A1C Without Diabetes? The short answer is yes: it is possible to have high A1C levels without diabetes. Because there are a number of lifestyle factors that can affect your hemoglobin, you'll want to work closely with your healthcare provider to determine what is causing your high A1C level.
Avoid high-fat dairy products and animal proteins such as butter, beef, hot dogs, sausage and bacon. Limit coconut and palm kernel oils. Trans fats. Avoid trans fats found in processed snacks, baked goods, shortening and stick margarines.
As discussed, your A1C, unlike a blood glucose test, measures your average blood sugar over a period of 2 to 3 months. This means, it can take up to 3 months to notice significant changes in your A1C.
Type-2 diabetes is reversible!
Type-2 diabetes is said to be reversed (in remission) when your HbA1c remains below 6.5% (or <48mmol/mol) for at least six months without the help of anti-diabetic medications. This reversal of diabetes remains possible for at least 10 years after the onset of the condition.
(1) Check your HbA1c levels a minimum of 2 times a year (every 6 months) if you've reached – and are consistently maintaining – your blood sugar target range (according to the recommendation of the American Diabetes Association).