A1c Level

[cute789]

Is this normal ? HEMOGLOBIN A1C
Normal Range: 4.1 - 5.6 %
Your Level: 5.7 %

[cute789]

Thank you everyone for your great advice .. I will have to keep an eye on what I eat ...

[Super_sally888]

Your advice is good.  I really appreciate what you are doing and your inputs, as will all the visitors.  I need your help too.  Please keep posting.  I have a more 'stringent' approach, maybe, because of my experience and research.  

There are many different perspectives on diabetes.  Cute789 says his dr says 5.7 is normal.  The medical establishment, particularly conventional medical establishment, will have lower standards than those who are most up to date. Like Bernstein, Noakes, among others who insist that normalizing blood sugar (truly normalizing) is the way to go.

We also must not forget that they now think that 50% or more of the US population has diabetes, prediabetes, or undiagnosed diabetes.  These people's "normal' results will skew what people and laboratories think and say are normal.

However, if they get young people who are slim and physically active.  their numbers tell a different story about what is truly normal.

[cute789]

my doctor says I'm normal so its very confusing

[brice1967]

Thanks sally.  Im done here.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

an a1c of 5.7 is an average blood sugar of about 125.  Consider that persons without diabetes will have an average blood sugar of around 86 (A1c of about 4.6).  You are already about 50% higher than that number - so this is definitely your warning to do something concrete.

I disagree that prediabetes is not yet diabetes.  It is like being a little bit pregnant - you either are or your aren't.

It is known that if you are at 5.7 it is likely that you will progress to higher numbers and 'overt diabetes' if you do nothing.

But it is early diabetes.  You have a golden opportunity now to get excellent control and potentially to reverse this with lifestyle measures.

At 5.7 your Dr may already put you on meds.  Usually metformin (an insulin sensitizer) is a starting med.  It often helps with weight loss.

The non-drug approach (which is critical) is exercise (particularly high intensity short duration has been shown to help reverse insulin resistance - look up Peak 8).  But just brisk walking is good if this is what you can do.

Low carb!  Diabetes is a disorder in carbohydrate metabolism.  It makes sense then that you should avoid most carbs.  Stick with non-starchy vegetables to make up the bulk of your carbs (and then quality protein,and non-processed naturally occurring fats: avocado, cheese, fatty meats, eggs, etc).

[cute789]

Thank you for the great advice :)

[brice1967]

Couple of things right off the bat.  "Pre-diabetic" does not mean "diabetic" so you have some time and a lot of room to work with.  Tighten up your diet, exercise a bit more, drink lots of water and study a little bit about the disease.  There are so many programs, tricks and philosophies that its hard to choose one, but listen to your doctors guidance.  He/she may give you liberty to try some different things and you'll find the one that works for you.

The other thing is, this is not a death sentence.  Do not stress out horribly over this.  Lifestyle change is what it may mean.  For me?  No carbs, but that was pretty easy because I got the majority of carbs from bread and potatoes.  Cut them out and my blood glucose levels flatten out.  Stress can affect your blood glucose readings.  Don't think of this as ruining your life but the opportunity to tighten up and be healthier on the other end.  ;)

[cute789]

Yes , Thank you , I had it tested in April, I was fasting  

[brice1967]

Slightly above normal in what they often call "pre diabetes". When you did your A1c, had you fasted for at least 12 hours?