Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Blood Sugar Test

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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Blood Sugar Test

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Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Blood Sugar Test

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What is the HbA1c Test?

The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the percentage of A1c hemoglobin proteins that have glucose attached. The higher your blood glucose is on average, the more glucose there is attached to the hemoglobin A1c protein.

Your HbA1c level correlates to and reflects your average blood glucose over the past 3 months. A healthy HbA1c is below 5.7% and above 5.7% indicates chronic elevated glucose and warrants a discussion with a healthcare provider.

Why Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Testing Matters

Longevity – People with an HbAlc between 4.5-5.7% had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality – view study
Lower risk of cardiovascular disease – Poor blood sugar management is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease – view study
Lower risk of dementia – Chronically elevated blood sugar is associated with the development of dementia – view study

Why Your Patients Should Test Their HbA1c

Balancing blood sugar levels in the body is a delicate task. Periodically making sure your patients’ blood sugar is within normal range can help stave off more serious health issues down the road such as diabetes, heart disease, cognitive issues, and kidney problems.

There are many factors that can affect blood glucose levels, primarily diet and lifestyle, but also medical conditions and medications. It is important to be aware if your patients have certain medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid conditions, iron deficiency, chronic liver disease, or sleep disorders as these may affect their body’s ability to metabolize glucose.

Further, some medications and supplements may affect glucose levels such as antiretrovirals, sulfa antibiotics, high doses of certain vitamins, aspirin, or chronic opioid use. It is important to discuss their medications and medical history along with their HbA1c test results.

Tips for Managing Blood Sugar

For many of your patients, blood sugar can be managed with diet and lifestyle modifications, as well as medications. People with mild blood sugar issues, as well as prediabetics and Type 2 diabetics can manage their blood sugar by following a few key steps:

Limit intake of processed foods:

These are typically high in calories, very tasty, and subject to overconsumption. Reducing or eliminating these types of foods will remove added sugar from your diet and in turn will help your body normalize blood sugar levels.

Eat balanced meals/snacks:

Try to always include protein and healthy fats along with complex carbohydrates (which are higher in fiber) to reduce blood sugar spikes, improve satiety, and increase digestion time.

Exercise more:

Physical activity is important for overall health and is especially effective and improving the effectiveness of insulin and reducing blood sugar long-term.

Reduce stress:

Stress causes your body to release the hormone cortisol, whose main function is to increase glucose output from your liver. Over time, this can lead to elevated blood sugar.

Get enough sleep:

People who consistently get less than 7 hours are more likely to have elevated Hba1c along with people who get poor quality sleep. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

Your Patients Can Optimize Their HbA1c in 3 Steps:

1. Measure

Testing your hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level is a great way to gain insight into your body’s ability to metabolize glucose.

2. Modify

Knowing your HbA1c level will enable you to modify your diet and supplements/medication.

3. Monitor

Monitoring changes over time is important in assessing the effectiveness of any diet and lifestyle changes.

HbA1c Blood Sugar Test Videos