How to test your A1c and beat diabetes
Because diabetes affects your blood, it can be scary and tough to manage. But that doesn’t mean diabetes is unstoppable! The best defense is to manage your risks and catch it in time to get the treatment you need.
One way to stay on top of your risk of diabetes is to test your A1c. Getting an A1c test, as well as watching your blood pressure and cholesterol, can lower your risk of developing diabetes and the risks that come with it—including heart attacks, stroke, kidney disease and eye problems.¹
Why test A1c?
Your A1c level is the percentage of hemoglobin protein in your blood that is coated with glucose or sugar.² Your doctor may also call it your eAG, or “estimated average glucose.”³
An A1c test points to your average blood-glucose (or blood-sugar) level over 2–3 months.² It starts with a blood draw or a finger prick, and you can do it at your doctor’s office. If you need a doctor, CenterWell® can help.
A1c tests show blood-sugar trends over a long period, which means they’re important in diagnosing diabetes or prediabetes—and helping doctors manage treatment.²
Depending on your needs, you may want to test more often. You should test once a year if you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, and at least 4 times a year if you take insulin and struggle to control your blood sugar.²
What’s a healthy A1c level?
A healthy range for A1c can vary from person to person, but generally, a nondiabetic person should have levels below 5.7%. A level above 6.5% may point to diabetes.³
Sometimes you can get a false result. Things like iron deficiency anemia can give a false high result, and a recent blood transfusion (or blood loss) can create a false low result.⁴
How to manage your blood sugar
If you’re living with diabetes, you should ask your doctor how often you should test, your ideal A1c range and tips to help you manage your blood sugar levels.
First, eat the right foods. Lots of fiber, healthy fats and lean protein—including low-glycemic index (GI) carbs like beans, vegetables and rolled oats—can be a recipe for success. Your body digests GI carbs slower, which means they raise your blood sugar slower, too.⁵
Don’t forget exercise! Try simple workouts like walking, swimming, biking or aerobics for at least 2.5 hours per week, and tougher muscle-strengthening exercises (think weight lifting or group classes) for at least 75 minutes each week. Experts say exercising can lower your blood sugar for 24 hours or more.⁵
Watch your stress levels, too. In addition to raising your blood pressure, stress also raises your levels of cortisol—a hormone that increases the liver’s sugar production, which can raise blood sugar.⁵ If you’re feeling stress, try yoga, meditation or breathing exercises to bring it back down.
And of course, avoid smoking and alcohol.
How CenterWell Pharmacy can help
If you’re prescribed medication to help you manage your diabetes, you can fill it at CenterWell Pharmacy®.
Keeping an eye on your blood sugar is important, too: at CenterWell Pharmacy, you can shop diabetes supplies including test strips, lancets and glucose monitors. You can also manage your blood sugar and stay comfortable with OTC items like gummies, skin relief creams and compression socks.
Sources
- “Managing Diabetes,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, last accessed Oct. 8, 2024.
- “A1C test,” Mayo Clinic, last accessed Oct. 8, 2024.
- “What Is the A1c Test?” American Diabetes Association, last accessed Oct. 10, 2024.
- “The A1C Test & Diabetes,” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, last accessed Oct. 8, 2024.
- “10 Ways to Lower Blood Sugar, According to Experts,” Forbes Health, last accessed Oct. 8, 2024.
