How Blood Sugar Levels Correlate To A1C Values

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Blood sugar levels are an essential consideration of our overall health. One standard test that doctors do is called the A1C blood test.

If your blood sugar levels are high, your A1C test results should also be high. The A1C blood test is the standard test that healthcare professionals use to see if your body is prediabetic or in a state of diabetes. Because the keto and low carb lifestyle do not have sugar or carbohydrates as part of the diet, many people have found that when they are on the keto and low carb lifestyle, they see their A1C test results improve.

What Is The A1C Blood Tests?

The A1C test is a standard blood test that many people will get when they have their annual physical exam or go into the doctor’s office for blood work. The A1C test is a standard blood test that is used to diagnose if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

The A1C blood test is also called the glycated hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1C, or HbA1c test. So if your doctor gives you a test for one of these names, it is an A1C test.

The purpose of the A1C test is to look at the Hemoglobin proteins in the red blood cells that transport oxygen.

Road To Diabetes

Here are some aspects of the A1C Blood test and why it is essential:

  • The A1C blood tests will test for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
  • Depending on how your body can handle sugar, the higher your blood sugar levels, the higher your A1C test numbers can be.
  • If you have diabetes, the A1C blood test will monitor how well you can manage your blood sugar and insulin levels.
  • The A1C blood test will reflect your average blood sugar level for the past two or three months; the test covers a long period of your blood sugar.
  • The A1C test will measure what percentage of hemoglobin proteins in your blood are coated in sugar (glycated)
  • The higher your A1C levels, the poorer your blood sugar control, and the higher your risk of diabetes complications.

Why Your Doctor Will Give You The A1C Test

The A1C test is a standard test that doctors give because the test is beneficial to help you understand the blood sugar levels in your body. The results of your A1C blood tests can help your health providers understand your blood sugar levels in your body.

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes.

The A1C blood test results help the health care professionals to see the following:

  • Understand If You Are Prediabetic – The A1C blood test will help show your doctor if you are prediabetic. If you have a normal A1C level, you will be below 5.7%; a level of 5,7% to 6.4% indicates you are prediabetic. If you are pre-diabetic, you should take the A1C blood test yearly.
  • Diagnose Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes – Your doctor will look at the A1C results of two blood tests given on different days or do an A1C test and another test to determine if you have diabetes. A level of 6.5% and above indicates you typically have diabetes. If you are diagnosed with diabetes but are not on insulin, most healthcare providers recommend taking an A1C test to monitor your blood sugar levels twice a year.
  • Monitor Your Diabetes Plan – The A1C blood test is also used to help monitor your diabetes treatment plan. The result of the A1C test will help the health care providers to give you a proper treatment plan if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes and are on insulin, many healthcare providers will want you to take an A1C test 4 times a year.

The Keto And Low Carb Lifestyle And Blood Sugar Levels

One of the benefits of living on the keto and low carb lifestyle is that because the keto and low carb lifestyle do not have any sugars, your blood sugar levels should go down by following the diet.

That is why many people on the keto and low carb diet have discovered that it helps their prediabetes or even diabetes A1C test numbers to improve. By not eating sugars or carbohydrates, the blood sugar levels in the body should naturally lower.

That is why if you see that your blood sugar levels are high or you are prediabetic, one of the best things you can do is go on a keto or low-carb diet to control your blood sugar and insulin levels. For many people, cutting out carbohydrates and sugars is the best way to get their blood insulin levels under control and see better results for the A1C blood tests.

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Reluctant Low Carb Life explores the keto and low carb lifestyles, fitness, health, wellness, and aging gracefully. We give you honest advice, accurate information, and real stories about what it means to change your life.

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