How To Lower A1c Levels
Reader Approved A1C is a form of glucose in the body that is regularly measured in people who suffer from type 1 and type 2 diabetes. A1C is generally used to determine a diabetic’s average blood sugar levels from previous months, and can aid healthcare providers in prescribing and recommending treatments to those with diabetes. A1C levels can generally be lowered by practicing healthy living, including adhering to proper nutrition, exercising regularly, and managing stress. 1 Add a higher number of fruits and vegetables to your diet. Fruits and vegetables contain a number of antioxidants that promote better health in general, and are also high in fiber, which studies have shown can contribute to better blood sugar management.[1] 2 Eat more beans and legumes. According to Harvard University Health Services, one-half cup (118 ml) of beans will provide you with one-third of your daily fiber requirement. Beans will also slow down the digestion process, and help stabilize blood sugar levels following meals.[2] 3 Consume more fat-free milk and yogurt. Fat-free milk and yogurt are rich in calcium and vitamin D, which have been shown to contribute to better blood sugar management and weight loss, the latter of which can help improve most cases of type 2 diabetes. 4 Increase your intake of nuts and fish. Most nuts and fatty fish including tuna, mackerel, and salmon contain omega-3 fatty acids that will help lower insulin resistance, regulate blood sugar levels, and contribute to better heart health. Nuts can also benefit type 2 diabetics who are trying to lower their cholesterol levels. 5 Spice your food with cinnamon. Although cinnamon is generally associated with sweets and desserts, research has shown that consuming one-half tsp. (2 ml) cinnamon per day can improve insulin Continue reading >>
Amazingly Easy Ways To Lower Your A1c
What if there were a magical “lower your A1c” wand? You just pull it out, swoop it over your head (or your pancreas) and… voila! A1c lowered. If only it were that simple. Focusing on eeking down that ever shifting number can be one of the most frustrating things a person living with diabetes has to do. But here is some good news: while there may not be a magic wand, there are some pretty simple, pretty cool fixes to help you on your way to lower your A1c. Kick it old school: Remember those bulky paper logbooks we all used to lug around? Yeah, well there’s something about them that just works. Going back to actually logging blood sugars, meals and doses can really help a person lower an A1c. Why? Because while it’s great to have tools that automatically upload to our medical team (and our computers), writing things down forces us to face them more, study them more and yes, not ignore them. (A cool side trick: use one of those pens with four colors of ink in it. Write all of your in range numbers in green, your high numbers in blue and your low numbers in red. Use the black for notes. With this, you can look at a logbook page and the patterns will jump out at you.) Ramp it up new school: Never used a CGM? Or haven’t used it in a while? CGM’s are a great way to help you lower your A1c, says Regina Shirley, RD, LDN and person with diabetes. “I make a commitment with my CGM. I will wear it religiously until I can get my A1c back to where I like it. It is not as easy as it may seem to remember to check blood sugars, and inserting yet one more device in your body adds on time to your diabetes care regimen that you would rather spend doing something else. However, when you know you need to get in better control, either to help with such things as pregnancy prepa Continue reading >>
Lowering A1c Levels Naturally
Call it what you will: hemoglobin A1C, glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1c, or just “A1C,” this number plays a huge role in how your diabetes is managed. It’s also used to diagnose diabetes, as well as prediabetes. Your A1C is a blood test that provides information about your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. Your provider and diabetes care team use this number to gauge how things are going and if and how to tweak your diabetes treatment plan. For most people who have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an A1C of less than 7%. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) advises a tighter goal of 6.5% or lower. Your goal may be completely different, and that’s OK (just make sure you know what it is!). Why lower your A1C? A1C goals aren’t decided upon out of thin air. The targets that the ADA, AACE, or your provider advise for you are based on clinical research, as well as other factors, such as your age, your overall health, and your risk of hypoglycemia. Landmark clinical trials, such as the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC), for example, have correlated lowering A1C with a decrease in diabetes-related complications. So, for every one point that you lower your A1C, you’ll lower your complication risk as follows: • Eye disease by 76% • Nerve damage by 60% • Heart attack or stroke by 57% • Kidney disease by 50% It’s important to realize that your A1C reflects an average of your blood sugar numbers. Your A1C might be 6.7%, but that may be because you’re having a lot of low blood sugars, for example. For this reason, your A1C should be viewed as part of the picture, and not in isolation. Your blood sugar readings Continue reading >>
How Do I Quickly Bring Down My Blood Glucose?
If you get a high reading when checking your blood sugar, is there a way to get the number down quickly? Continue reading >>
13 Natural And Easy Ways To Lower Your Blood Sugar
Being diagnosed with Type II diabetes can be a bummer, and it can be a struggle to keep blood sugars under control. Sometimes, you may find yourself with blood sugar levels that are higher than normal (let's say around 150, for example), but not excessive enough to necessitate taking more medication. You don't feel very good with the higher blood sugar, but taking medication can make your blood sugar TOO low. So what can you do to lower your blood sugar up to 40 points without taking more medication? Try the following these 13 tips and see if you can lower your blood sugar naturally. (See also: How to Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes) Health Disclaimer: As always, you need to be careful to monitor your sugar levels so as not to become hypoglycemic (that's when your blood sugar is too low, which is dangerous). Talk to your physician before making any changes to your diet. And remember, these 13 tips for lowering blood sugar may work for many people, but they won't work for everyone. Carb Intake Carbs are basically sugar, and everybody should make an effort to control their intake, especially diabetics. 1. Cut Back the Carbs Effects seen: Immediate Your diet is something you want to talk to your physician about, but the simple fact is that a lower carb diet makes it easier to maintain stable blood sugar levels. It's part of why you're hearing so much about the Paleo Diet these days. Carbohydrates are found in starchy foods — root vegetables, grains, rice, and legumes — and all of their derivatives, like bread, pasta, sushi, French fries, mashed yams, and even lentil soup. As someone who has been diabetic for nearly 20 years, I can attest that eating a diet low in carbohydrates, but rich in leafy greens, nuts, dark fruits like berries, and lean meats has had an amazing eff Continue reading >>
David’s Guide To Getting Our A1c Under 6.0
The A1C test is our best scorecard to show how well we are controlling our diabetes. It measures how much glucose has been sticking to our red blood cells for the previous two or three months. Since our bodies replace each red blood cell with a new one every four months, this test tells us the average of how high our glucose levels have been during the life of the cells. The experts recommend that we should get our A1C level tested at least twice a year. People who take insulin need to get it about four times a year. If the test shows that our blood glucose level is high, it means that we have a greater risk of having diabetes problems. Think of the A1C as an early warning system for the insidious complications that we can get down the road when we don’t control our condition. But what do we mean by a “high” A1C level? Here the experts disagree. The American Diabetes Association says that we need to keep our A1C results below 7.0 percent. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists sets the target at 6.5 percent. The International Diabetes Federation, or IDF, also recommends that most people with diabetes keep their levels below 6.5 percent. The more our A1C level is higher than normal, the greater the likelihood that we will suffer from one or more of the complications of diabetes. And here too the experts disagree with how they define “normal.” People who don’t have diabetes have A1C levels below 6.0 percent. That’s the gist of what I wrote here recently in “The Normal A1C Level.” The IDF agrees. But more aggressive endocrinologists say that a truly normal A1C ranges from 4.2 percent to 4.6 percent. That’s what Dr. Richard K. Bernstein wrote in Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution. No matter what our level is, we can be sure that lower is Continue reading >>
How To Reduce A1c
Do you visit websites looking for information only to find a whole lot of rubbish and not much practical information? For example, when I decided to write this post I searched the web for ‘How to lower a1c' and I found articles like this that give you 10 pages of seemingly useless information. For starters those sites where you have to click to the next page to read one paragragh really annoy me. And if I read that post I'd be even more confused! So our goal here at Diabetes Meal Plans is to cut through the crap and confusion and give you practical strategies that REALLY get results. So let's tackle today's reader question: My A1c is high and I need help or suggestions to lower it. I'm feeling so frustrated, please help?! In this post I am going to cover how to reduce a1c but just remember if you have a question, you can submit it over here and we'll answer it in a post. What is A1c? I covered this in detail in another post over here. But the short of it is that A1c is a blood test that is done to reflect your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. The thing to understand here is what is raising the A1c level, it's sugar/ carbohydrates! A process called glycosylation occurs where sugars (glucose) in your blood stream attach to hemoglobin. The average red blood cell lives for around 3 months, so when they are doing the a1c blood test they are testing glycated hemoglobin. What's affecting this result the most? Sugar/ carbohydrate intake…so that's where you need to start. How To Lower A1c? Essentially you lower your a1c the same as you lower your blood glucose, through diet, exercise, and lifestyle. Cut the carbs If it's sugar/ carbs that influence a1c the most, then it makes sense to cut the carbs, right? So one of the best ways to lower a1c is to cut ba Continue reading >>
Best Ways To Lower Hemoglobin A1c Levels Naturally
Hemoglobin A1c, glycohemoglobin, or HbA1c tests measure your average blood sugar levels over the previous three months and tell you how well you’ve been managing your diabetes. Very high numbers indicate you may need to fix your blood glucose management regimen. While medication is an option, many seek out natural remedies to lower HbA1c levels. But what exactly are your options if you want to take the natural route and how effective are these? Let’s find out. What Are Normal Levels Of Hemoglobin A1c? Before diving into how to fix the problem, you need to know how far off the mark you are. So, first, what HbA1c means. Sugar in the body attaches to proteins in the blood, including hemoglobin in red blood cells. This blood sugar then stays attached to the red blood cell for its entire life. Since the average red blood cell lives for 100 days or 3 months, that’s the duration for which the blood sugar HbA1c level is measured.1 The ideal A1c level is 5.7 percent or lower. If you are prediabetic, you may have a number somewhere between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent. This means you are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than other people and will need to be retested annually. A number of over 6.5 percent means you are likely to have type 2 diabetes, something that may be confirmed by administering other diabetes tests. If you have already been diagnosed, you should work the A1c test into your routine twice a year and aim at keeping the number below 7 percent.2 However, for some people, a higher HbA1c may also be fine. The optimal level could be different from one person to another. As a result, HbA1c levels that are very low may actually result in abnormally low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia, which comes with its own set of problems. For the following categ Continue reading >>
Secrets To Lowering Your A1c — A Diabetic Health Coach Gives Us The Scoop
As a Diabetic Health coach, the majority of my clients come to me looking for help to lower their A1C. Being a Type 1 diabetic for fifteen years, I understand that a lower A1C is more than just a number. It’s about getting control of your life. When I was diagnosed at seven years old, I was extremely fortunate to have parents that took really great care of me. I remember growing up with my dad telling me, “Out of all the report cards you will ever bring home, your A1C report is the most important one!” The majority of my childhood I had a decent A1C that averaged in the mid 7’s. It was never terrible, but it was always a goal of mine to get it as low as possible to reduce future complications. When I went off to college and became more independent, things changed. While most kids were partying and eating fast food at 2 a.m., I was playing Division 1 soccer, and knew that if I wanted to perform my best, I needed to feel my best. Through self-education and attending the Institute for Integrative Nutrition after college, I started implementing tools for both my mind and body which helped me become healthier and more in control of my diabetes. Today, I want to share with you how I lowered my A1C from a 7.5 to a 5.7, and became the healthiest and happiest I have ever been. If you want tighter control of your blood sugar numbers, start by looking at your level of satisfaction in these 5 areas: 1 – Organization I find that organization makes life with diabetes less overwhelming. Every Sunday night I plan out my week. I write down days, times, and details for food shopping, morning meditation, workouts, pump set changes, appointments, and meal prepping. When I’m organized from day to day, I have more energy to focus on my diabetes control. This also empowers me both Continue reading >>
3 Easy Tips To Lower Blood Sugar Fast
Jeanette Terry was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 11 years old, and she has since lived with diabetes through difficult life transitions, including the teenage years, college, and having children. She addresses the day-to-day struggles of living with diabetes—going beyond medical advice—to improve overall adherence and management. Extremely high blood sugar levels can be dangerous, and they can cause lasting health complications. Remember: if you ever have blood sugar readings that remain high for more than 24 hours without coming down (and after an effort has been made to lower them), you need to be addressed by a doctor. That being said, we've all had those days when we get a random high blood sugar reading and we are not sure what caused it…or we forget to give insulin, or we eat a delicious dessert without realizing how much sugar is actually in it. For whatever reason, those out of the ordinary high blood sugar readings happen and need to be treated. No need to rush to the doctor for every high blood sugar reading though. There are some simple steps you can take to lower blood sugar fast. Watch for signs of high blood sugar You know the feeling: extreme thirst, sluggishness, nausea, blurred vision, a downright sick feeling. And your family or friends may tell you that extreme irritability is a major sign you need to check your blood sugar to see if it is high. The best thing to do is to catch it before it gets really high, or it will be harder to bring down quickly, causing havoc on your blood sugar readings for days. If you do not take insulin as a part of your treatment plan, these tips will show you how to lower your blood sugar fast. If you take insulin, you will first want to give the appropriate amount of insulin to correct the blood sugar. Continue reading >>
6 Ways To Lower Your A1c Level
Diabetes is a serious, chronic disease that can lead to many complications. When managed properly, diabetes does not have to control your life or ruin your health. Getting tested, especially if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, is a proactive measure you can take for yourself and your future. In the early stages of diabetes, there are no symptoms. An early diagnosis helps you get treatment before complications occur. The A1C test is a blood test that checks for type 2 diabetes. It is also used to see how well you are managing your diabetes if you have already been diagnosed. The test provides information about a person’s average levels of blood sugar over a two- to three-month period. The number is reported in the form of a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your average blood glucose levels are, and the higher your risk for either diabetes or related complications. A1C is one of the primary tests used for diabetes diagnosis and management. It can test for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but it can’t test for gestational diabetes. It can also be used to predict the likelihood that someone will get diabetes. The A1C test measures how much glucose, or sugar, is attached to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells. The more glucose attached, the higher the A1C. This test is groundbreaking, as it 1) doesn’t require fasting, 2) gives a picture of blood sugar levels over a period of days and weeks instead of at just one point in time like fasting sugars, and 3) can be done at any time of day. This makes it easier to administer and easier to make accurate diagnoses. According to the National Institutes of Health, a normal A1C is below 5.7 percent. If your score is between 5.7 and 6.4 percent, the diagnosis is prediabetes. Having prediabetes put Continue reading >>
Diabetes Experts Share Ways To Lower Your A1c Levels
Diabetes management at home is an important way of controlling your blood sugar levels without the help of an expert. In that sense, you are in control of your diabetes on a daily basis. However, the American Diabetes Associations’ recommends that a person with diabetes should get their A1C tested by a doctor at least two times a year. The test will give you a picture of your journey with diabetes as a whole. Now, once you do get the numbers, what do you do with that information? If you are on the right track, you will continue doing whatever it is that has been working so far. you feel encouraged! However, if the numbers are not what you and your health care provider were expecting, it is imperative that you embark on the path to lowering them so you can avoid any diabetes related complications in the future. The task can be daunting and overwhelming. We have rounded up 37 experts to share tips and ways that will help you in lowering your A1C levels and keeping them that way. The wisdom they share with us today will help you take those little steps towards a healthier lifestyle. 1. Sharon Castillo In a recent study published by the University of Toronto, it was shown that cinnamon has properties which can reduce blood pressure, especially for those who have prediabetes or type 2-diabetes. Hypertension or high blood pressure is common among those who have prediabetes and type-2 diabetics. High blood glucose levels create oxidative radicals which can damage the arteries. I recommend reading the following articles: The damage to the arteries can result into the scarring of the blood vessels. The scarring builds up plaque which reduces the size of the blood vessel. The reduction in the size of the diameter increases blood pressure. While not all of cinnamon’s mechanism Continue reading >>
5 Simple Ways To Lower Your A1c This Week
The A1C blood test is a simple test that analyzes your glucose (blood sugar) levels by measuring the amount of glycated hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells; when glucose enters the blood, it attaches to the hemoglobin. The result is glycated hemoglobin. The more glucose in your blood, the higher your glycated hemoglobin. The A1C is a valuable indicator of how well your diabetes management plan is working. While your individual A1C goal will depend on factors including your age and your personal medical profile, most people with diabetes aim to keep their A1C below 7 percent. By keeping your A1C number within your target range, you can reduce the risk of diabetes complications. While it is important to develop a long-term diabetes management plan with your physician, there are several steps you can take right away to help reduce your A1C. Small changes add up, so consider trying some of these strategies to lower your A1C this week. 1. Try Short Sessions of High Intensity Exercise According to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2015, type 2 diabetes patients who did 10 minutes of exercise three times a day, five days a week at 85 percent of their target heart rate had a twofold improvement in A1C levels compared to patients who exercised for 30 minutes a day at 65 percent of their target heart rate. Be sure to check with your doctor before trying high intensity exercise, and wear a heart rate monitor so you don’t overdo it. 2. Shrink Your Dinner Plate Instead of a large dinner plate for your meals, use a smaller salad plate. This simple swap can trick your eyes and brain into thinking you’re eating more than you really are, and you’ll feel satisfied with less food. It’s especially helpfu Continue reading >>
I Need All The A1c Lowering Advice I Can Get !!
I need all the A1C lowering advice I can get !! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please,join our community todayto contribute and support the site. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. I need all the A1C lowering advice I can get !! Well, here goes my first post, as a new member and new to diabetes education. I'm 39 and recently found myself pregnant with an A1C of 12.4. I subsequently lost the pregnancy. Over the years I accepted that I probably wasn't going to be blessed with any children, but after a recent marriage and this first pregnancy, I have hope. Naturally, my doctors are rushing me to lower that A1c so I can try again as soon as possible. I admit I am quite naive to this new world of diabetes, and in 3 weeks time I took a radical change in my life with insulin, carb counting, logging BG's/carbs/meds, exercise, etc. This forum has already provided me a plethora of information and I hope to find the support I need to lower my A1C. I really need input on what's the best route to take, and can you drop your A1C too fast? with such a high starting A1C, would it be impossible to get it down to a healthy level within a 3 month period of time?? I have seen people lower their HbA1c 2-3 points in a 3 month period. I was dx'd with an HbA1c around 10 and within a year I had it down to about 7. It took me another 2 years to get it below 6. Since you are on insulin you may be able to do it faster. I think the important thing is to determine how different foods spike your bgs. Keep a food journal and experiment a lot. I try not to go over 110-120 at 2 hours. I am trying to push it lower by choosing the right foods at meals. I have found by doing this my moring bgs will stay below 100. As far as the pregnancy, I think they would l Continue reading >>
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Foods To Lower A1c – How To Lower A1c
Foods To Lower A1C – How To Lower A1C How to lower a1c? The questios arises in everyone’s mind. Foods to lower a1c levels naturally is a list which would help you immensely. If you suffer from diabetes, with high A1c levels consider what you eat is one of the most important things that will help keep you healthy. Foods to lower a1c are very effective foods. The main thing is that you want to avoid blood sugar spikes. Sweets and sugary sodas, They can be dangerous as the body absorbs these sugars instantly.However, the good news is that there are many foods out there that can actually help in a natural way to lower A1c levels. Natural way to lower A1c – List of Foods To Lower A1C Broccoli Broccoli contains a compound called sulforaphane. This naturally occurring substance, when eaten, will allow an anti-inflammatory process to begin which helps to lower A1c levels naturally. This substance also helps protect blood vessels from heart disease which is a leading cause of death in people with diabetes. This substance also helps protect blood vessels from heart disease which is a leading cause of death in people with diabetes. Chocolate Chocolate is good for me!!! Yes in moderation but stick to Dark Chocolate. It is full of flavonoids which have shown to reduce insulin resistance, lower a1c levels fast and keep cravings at bay. Tests have shown that people who consume dark chocolate consume less fat and carbohydrates. Tests have shown that people who consume dark chocolate consume less fat and carbohydrates. Blueberries Blueberries contain both insoluble fiber (helps to get rid of fat in your system) but also soluble fiber which helps to lower A1c levels naturally by slowing down the emptying of the stomach. There is also a natural hormone in the berries which helps reg Continue reading >>
