Quick way to lower a1c: 9 Tips To Lower Your A1c Level

18.03.202214.07.2023 by alexxlab

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9 Tips To Lower Your A1c Level

Written by Elizabeth Svoboda

When you have diabetes, you probably know you should check your blood sugar regularly. Your doctor will also recommend that you take an A1c blood test a few times a year, with a goal of lowering the results to help protect your health. And there’s a lot you can do to move toward meeting that goal.

Unlike a regular blood sugar test, the A1c test measures the amount of sugar that clings to a protein, called hemoglobin, in your red blood cells. The test shows your average blood sugar levels over the past few months, so you know how well your diabetes is under control.

In general, the goal for your A1c is to be lower than 7%. Exactly how much lower will depend on your individual treatment plan. When you take steps to get your A1c in a healthy range, you lower your risk of complications such as nerve damage, eye problems, and heart disease.

Your doctor will let you know the best target for your A1c. How do you get there? Here are a few tactics to try, in addition to taking any medications your doctor prescribes.

Get some new kitchen gear. You’ll want to get a set of measuring cups and a kitchen scale if you don’t already have them. These will help you with your portion sizes. Your blood sugar will go up if you eat more food than your body needs. Keeping servings in check is a good way to reduce your A1c level.

At first, it’s a good idea to measure your food to give you an idea of what healthy portion sizes look like for different foods. That’s where the measuring cups and scale come in handy. You may be surprised at first to see what one serving looks like, especially of high-carb items like cereal, rice, and pasta. But this will help ensure you don’t eat more than you intend to.

Be carb smart. It’s true that carbohydrates affect your blood sugar more than other nutrients you eat. Chances are that if you overdo starchy carbs on a regular basis, your A1c number will start to creep up. But remember, all carbs aren’t a problem. You want ones that have a lot of fiber and nutrients, more than those that just serve up starch.

Tweak your plate. Experts advise filling about half your plate with vegetables that are low in starch, such as carrots, greens, zucchini, or tomatoes. One-quarter of your plate should be a lean protein like chicken or tofu, and the last quarter should be whole grains like brown rice or quinoa.

Make a plan. The guidelines for what to put on your plate give you a lot of flexibility. But even though it sounds simple, you’ll probably be better off if you plan your meals. Why? If you skip set menus and eat on the fly, it’s easy to end up with calorie-dense, high-carbohydrate food choices — like fast food, bagels, and frozen pizza — that will cause your blood sugar and A1c numbers to soar.

Instead, at the start of each week, pencil in a rough plan for what foods you’ll eat at each meal and what groceries you’ll need. This way, you’ll be prepared with plenty of choices that limit post-meal blood sugar spikes. A Mediterranean diet, which is low in saturated fat and high in vegetables and fruit, reliably lowers A1c numbers.

Maybe downsize your weight loss goal. Not everyone with type 2 diabetes is overweight. But if you are, you may not need to drop as much as you think to make a difference in your A1c level.

If you’re overweight, diabetes doctors will often recommend you try to lose just 5% to 10% of your current weight. 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%.

You may have a different goal for your weight or other health considerations on your mind. Ask your doctor to help you make a weight loss plan that matches your overall goals.

Rethink your exercise plan. Other than upgrading your nutrition, exercise is one of the most important habit changes you can make to lower your A1c. But don’t just grind it out on the treadmill, or you’ll miss another effective workout: strength training.

No offense to the elliptical machine or your cycling class. You can choose whatever type of exercise you prefer as long as it’s a challenging workout. Both aerobic exercise and resistance (weight) training lower A1c levels if they’re part of a regular routine.

There’s solid science to support how much working out helps you whittle down your A1c level. Since exercise prompts your muscles to take up sugar from your bloodstream, it helps your blood sugar levels drop more quickly after you eat a meal. As you make exercise a regular habit, you’ll see a downward trend in your A1c numbers.

Never miss your meds. You can reliably lower your A1c through diet and exercise. But if your doctor has prescribed medication, such as metformin, miglitol, or insulin, it’s important to take them exactly as prescribed. If you miss doses regularly, your blood sugar numbers may creep up and cause your A1c to rise. But if you follow the medication plan that your doctor recommends and go to every appointment, your blood sugar should stay under control — and your lower A1c number will reflect that. If your goal is to cut down on, or even stop needing, your meds, tell your doctor that you want to work toward that. But don’t stop them on your own.

Be savvy about supplements. Many dietary supplements say they’ll lower your A1c. But there’s not always much research to back that up. Still, some may have promise. These include berberine, made up of extracts from a variety of plants, and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antioxidant that reduces inflammation in your body. Cinnamon may also lower A1c levels over time. As with any supplement, it’s best to check with your doctor first.

Put your plan on repeat. Stick with it and give it time. Since your A1c level reflects your average blood sugar over several months, it’s going to take that long for your A1c to drop. You won’t do everything perfectly, and that’s OK. Just keep moving in the direction you want to go in. And rest assured: Your A1c number will come down, and it’ll be worth it.

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9 Ways to Lower Your A1C Level

You can lower your A1C level with changes to diet, exercise, and other habits. For some people, medication may also help.

Diabetes is a serious, chronic condition that can lead to many complications. But there are ways to manage your blood sugar levels that may reduce your risk.

A doctor may test your A1C level if you have or are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Early diagnosis and treatment may help prevent complications.

Here are nine ways to lower your A1C:

Eating certain foods may help lower your A1C, so you may want to make a plan and stick to it. A few important strategies include:

Make a grocery list: When trying to fill your basket with nutrient-dense foods while minimizing sweets, having and following a list can help you avoid impulse purchases. If you’re trying out new recipes, a list can help make sure you get home with all the right ingredients.
Meal prep ahead of time: When you’re fixing a nutritious meal, you can save time by doubling the recipe, so you have another meal readily available later in the week.
Build in flexibility: Plan to give yourself options before you need them. That way, you’re not searching for a fallback when the cupboards are bare and your stomach is rumbling.

Controlling portion sizes may also help reduce your A1C. Helpful practices can include:

Get familiar with the appropriate portion sizes: You don’t have to measure every food you eat by the gram to learn to recognize and make a habit of thinking about what’s a right-size portion.
Use smaller plates at home: For portioning purposes, opting for a smaller plate may help limit portion sizes.
Avoid eating from a bag: If you’re having a few crackers, pull out a reasonable serving, then put the rest back in the cupboard for later.
Be mindful when going out to eat: Restaurant meals can contain large portion sizes. Rather than order an entrée that may contain more food than you need, you may want to ask a friend if they’ll split something with you. Or you can plan to take half home to eat later in the week.

The appropriate amount of carbohydrates varies from person to person and is worth discussing with a doctor. But carbs can be easy to overdo if you’re not keeping track. It can be helpful to maintain a food diary or use an app to keep track of your carb intake.

Starting out, you may have to take some time to look at nutrition labels. With practice, this will become a quick and easy process and will help you get a sense of which foods are most carb-heavy so you can adjust accordingly.

Also called the diabetes plate method, the idea here is to simplify your mealtime calculations while eating the right foods in the right proportions. Picture a plate that’s less than a foot in diameter and divide it up into quarters:

Half of what’s on the plate — that is, two quarters — should be low carb vegetables: There are many to choose from, including broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peppers, mushrooms, and cucumber. This can include anything leafy, like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, and so on.
The next quarter of the plate should be lean proteins: This can include fish, chicken, eggs, shellfish, cheese, tofu, and lean cuts of pork or beef.
The last quarter of the plate goes to carbs: Carbs can include grains like rice and whole grain bread, as well as fruit and starchy vegetables like potatoes.

You can apply the same proportions and ideas behind the plate method to foods that don’t lend themselves to being divided across a plate, like sandwiches, for instance.

Set yourself up for success. It’s important to be practical because a slow, steady approach to weight loss (a pound or two a week, at most) tends to get the best results when it comes to keeping weight off.

It’s also worth noting the results don’t have to be drastic to meaningfully improve your health. Experts say even 5% can make a difference. This means, if someone at 180 pounds adjusts their exercise and food habits and works their way down to 170 pounds over a few months, the resulting health benefits can be worthwhile.

Talk with a doctor about what weight loss goal makes sense for you and how best to work toward it.

Increasing your activity level can help get your A1C level down for good. You may want to start with a 20-minute walk after lunch. You may be able to build up to 150 minutes of extra activity a week.

Get confirmation from a doctor first before you increase your activity level. Exercise can affect your blood sugar levels, and depending on other health conditions you may have, a doctor may recommend a safe starting point. Being safely active is a key part of reducing the risk of developing diabetes.

Remember: Any exercise is better than no exercise. Even getting up for 2 minutes every hour has been shown to help reduce the risk of diabetes.

Taking prescribed diabetes medications can help manage your A1C level. Medications that lower fasting blood sugars will also lower your A1C level.

Some medications primarily affect your blood sugars after a meal, which are also called postprandial blood sugars. These medications include sitagliptin (Januvia), repaglinide (Prandin), and others. While they don’t significantly improve fasting glucose values, they still help lower your A1C level because of the decrease in post-meal glucose spikes.

Some supplements may improve your A1C level. These can include aloe vera and chromium.

Aloe vera is a succulent that may lower fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C, according to 2022 research. However, additional studies are needed to test its long-term effects.

Chromium, a mineral found in vegetables like potatoes and mushrooms, as well as oysters, may lower A1C in people with severe insulin resistance and less glycemic control. But some studies show inconsistent or mixed results. As a result, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) doesn’t recommend chromium supplementation in people with diabetes.

Lowering your A1C levels depends on making changes that become habits. The best way to make something second nature is to keep doing it consistently.

Particularly where eating patterns and exercise are concerned, slow, steady progress tends to deliver the best long-term results.

Sugar from food makes its way into your bloodstream and attaches to your red blood cells — specifically to a protein called hemoglobin.

Your A1C level is a measure of how much sugar is attached to your red blood cells. This can help determine if you have diabetes or prediabetes and can help inform you how best to manage it.

The A1C test is a blood test that screens for diabetes. The test provides information about a person’s average levels of blood sugar over a 2- to 3-month period before the test. If you have diabetes, it can give doctors a picture of whether treatment is working and how well you’re managing the condition.

The A1C test measures how much glucose (sugar) is attached to hemoglobin. This is the protein in red blood cells. The more glucose attached, the higher the A1C.

The number is reported as a percentage. If the percentage is higher, so are your average blood glucose levels. A higher number means your risk for either diabetes or related complications is higher.

Although A1C is the gold standard of diabetes diagnosis, many clinical conditions can affect A1C, including iron deficiency anemia and other blood disorders that affect red blood cells. A doctor may recommend you take a different test to ensure an accurate diagnosis. A1C can test for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but not for gestational diabetes.

If you have diabetes, you still need to test your blood glucose level regularly with a fingerstick glucose test. Because the A1C measures an average, it may not capture intense highs and lows on its own.

Some benefits of the A1C test include:

It doesn’t require fasting.
It gives an average of blood sugar levels over a period of weeks to months.
It can be done at any time of the day.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, A1C measurements can indicate whether you have diabetes or prediabetes.

Diagnosis	A1C level
Optimal level	below 5. 7%
Prediabetes	5.7%-6.4%
Diabetes	6.5% and above

Having prediabetes puts you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes within 10 years. Within the prediabetes range, having a higher percentage increases your risk of developing diabetes. But you can take steps to prevent or delay developing diabetes. If you test positive for prediabetes, a doctor may recommend retesting each year.

If you have received a diagnosis of diabetes, having a higher percentage can increase your risk of diabetes complications.

If you receive a diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes, a doctor may prescribe a home monitor to allow you to test your blood sugar. Be sure to talk with them about what to do if the results are too high or too low for you.

It’s important to talk with a doctor about what steps you can take to help lower your A1C levels. They can help you set and monitor practical goals and may also prescribe medication.

Additionally, a doctor may connect you with a dietician who can help you better understand the nutrition component of lowering your A1C levels. They can also help determine the best ways to adjust your diet and habits around food in health-promoting, practical ways.

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar levels over a period of weeks to months.

You may be able to lower your A1C level by eating a nutritious diet with controlled portion sizes and getting regular exercise. Doctors may recommend medication for some people.

5 ways to lower your A1C while treating diabetes

A1C is a blood test that shows how well your diabetes treatment plan is working. Here’s how to achieve a healthy A1C number and avoid the complications of diabetes.

A1C is a blood test that shows how well your diabetes care plan is working. Here’s how to achieve a healthy A1C number and avoid the complications of diabetes.

For some people, home blood sugar testing can be an important and useful tool for managing blood sugar levels on a daily basis. However, it gives an understanding of what is happening at the moment, rather than a complete picture of what has happened in the long run.

For this reason, your doctor may sometimes order a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. This test, called the A1C test or the A1C hemoglobin test, provides another indication of how well your type 2 diabetes treatment plan is working.

How often do you need to take the A1C test?

If blood sugar levels remain stable, the American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C test twice a year. If your therapy has changed or you are not meeting your glycemic (blood sugar) targets, the association recommends getting tested four times a year. This simple blood draw can be done in your doctor’s office.

A1C test results provide insight into how your treatment plan is working and how it can be modified to better manage your condition. Often your blood sample is sent to a lab for results, although some doctors may use an A1C item for a medically assisted test, where a finger stick test can be done in the office, with results available in about 10 minutes. However, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) notes that point-of-care tests should not be used for diagnosis, which can only be done with NGSP-certified lab tests. Any results indicating a change in your health must be confirmed by routine laboratory tests.

What do your A1C results mean?

The A1C test measures the level of glucose (blood sugar) in your blood by assessing the amount of so-called glycated hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. When glucose enters the bloodstream, it binds to hemoglobin, or glycates. The more glucose enters the blood, the higher the level of glycated hemoglobin.

According to the ADA, an A1C level below 5.7 percent is considered normal. An A1C between 5.7 and 6.4 percent signals prediabetes, according to the ADA. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when the A1C level is at or above 6.5 percent. For many people with type 2 diabetes, the goal is to get their A1C levels down to a healthier percentage.

Your A1C goal is specific to you. Several factors come into play, such as your age, how far you have developed diabetes, and any other health conditions you may have. If you can keep your A1C number below your target, you can help reduce your risk of complications from diabetes, such as nerve damage and vision problems.

What are the top tips for reducing A1C?

Your A1C score is an important part of the diabetes control picture.

1. Regular exercise

2. Eat a balanced diet

3. Follow a healthy eating and lifestyle schedule

4. Follow your doctor’s diabetes management plan

5. Check your blood sugar as directed by your doctor

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Braverman, L.I. Diseases of the thyroid gland / L.I. Braverman. – M.: Medicine, 2019. – 850 c.
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Article verified by an expert:
general practitioner Oksana Nikolaevna Bocharovskaya more

How to quickly lower A1C?

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to lower your A1C levels. Exercise is one of the best ways to lower your blood sugar . One workout can lower your blood sugar for 24 hours or more. Go to the gym regularly and your A1C levels will drop as well.

Similarly, can apple cider vinegar lower A1C levels? The review reported that apple cider vinegar caused a slight significant decrease in HbA1c results after 8–12 weeks. HbA1c levels reflect a person’s blood glucose levels over many weeks or months.

How can I lower my A1c naturally in a week? Making these healthy changes can help you improve day-to-day blood sugar management and lower your A1C levels:

Start an exercise plan you like and do it regularly.
Eat a balanced diet with the right portion sizes.
Keep a regular schedule to help you follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.

Correspondingly, at what level of A1c does damage begin? A normal A1C level of less than 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. In the prediabetes range of 5.7% to 6.4%, the higher your A1C level, the higher your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Your result is A1C.

A1C%	EAH mg/dl
9	212
10	240

Also, what makes your A1c go up?

If a person has a consistently high blood glucose level over time, the A1c level rises because more of the red blood cells are covered in sugar. The test is representative of a 2–3 month average because once the red blood cell is covered in sugar, the bond becomes irreversible.

Contents

Does lemon juice lower blood sugar?

Lemon juice significantly reduced the mean peak blood glucose concentration by 30% (p < 0.01) and delayed it by more than 35 min (78 vs. 41 min with water, p < 0.0001).

How can I lower my blood sugar in the morning?

How to control high blood sugar in the morning?

Changing the timing or type of your diabetes medications.
Light breakfast.
Increasing the morning dose of diabetes medications.
If you are on insulin, switch to your insulin pump and program it to deliver more insulin in the morning.

Can you have high A1C and not be diabetic?

Is it possible to have a high A1C level and not be diabetic? According to one 2009 study, 3.8% of people without a history of diabetes have an elevated A1C level (greater than 6.0). This group is more likely to have other risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Can walking lower A1C levels?

When you do moderate exercise, such as walking, your heart starts to beat faster and your breathing gets harder. Your muscles use more glucose, the sugar in the bloodstream. Over time, this can lower your blood sugar levels. It also improves the way insulin works in your body.

How quickly can A1C drop in 3 months?

The good news is that if your A1C is on the high side, say 10% or higher, it will likely start to decline within two to three months (in other words, the higher it is, the faster it declines). On the other hand, if your A1C is 7.5%, it may take a little longer for your A1C to drop.

What is the highest A1C ever recorded?

However, they report that Michael Patrick Buonocor survived a blood glucose (GG) level of 2.656 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) upon admission to the emergency room in March 2008 in East Stroudsburg, PA.

Why do I have high glucose levels but normal A1C levels?

A1C tests measure your average blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. You may have high fasting blood sugar, but your total blood sugar may be normal, or vice versa. A normal fasting blood sugar level cannot rule out the possibility of type 2 diabetes.

Can A1C be cancelled?

Diabetes is most often diagnosed when someone has a hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c is a measure of blood sugar) greater than or equal to 6.5%. For diabetes to be reversed, a person must have an HbA1c level below the diabetic range, indicating that blood sugar levels have improved without the use of medications such as insulin.

Can stress increase A1C levels?

When your body is under stress, it prepares to either fight or flee from the stressor. To do this, your body needs energy in the form of glucose, so the hormone cortisol is released, which raises blood sugar levels. In turn, this also causes your A1C to go up.

Is cucumber water good for diabetics?

This natural health tonic, also known as cucumber water or cucumber detox water, can help you stay hydrated, lose weight, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Studies have shown that people with type 2 diabetes can lower their blood sugar levels by eating cucumbers.

Green tea lowers blood sugar?

Epidemiological studies have shown that green tea consumption may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Intervention studies show that green tea can lower blood glucose levels as well as increase satiety.

Why do I have high fasting glucose but normal A1C?

What is in Berberine?

Berberine is a chemical found in certain plants such as European barberry, goldenrod, goldenrod, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and wood turmeric. Berberine is a bitter-tasting, yellow-colored chemical. This can help increase the heart rate, which may benefit people with certain heart conditions.

Why does my blood sugar rise as soon as I wake up?

In the early hours of the morning, hormones including cortisol and growth hormone signal the liver to increase its production of glucose, which provides energy to help you wake up. This causes the beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin to control blood glucose levels.

Can stress increase A1C levels?

Chronic stress, especially in relation to living with diabetes, was most strongly associated with A1c, especially among subgroups that experience disproportionate stress, such as minority groups or adolescents/young adults.

What foods cause high A1C levels?

In general, the foods that cause the greatest rise in blood sugar levels are high carbohydrate foods that are quickly converted into energy, such as rice, bread, fruit, and sugar. This is followed by foods high in protein, such as meat, fish eggs, milk and dairy products, and fatty foods.

Can drinking water lower blood sugar levels?

Drink water and stay hydrated

Drinking water regularly can rehydrate your blood, lower your blood sugar, and lower your risk of diabetes (20, 21).

How can I lower my HbA1C levels without medication?