Do I need medication if my A1c is 7?

There is no specific A1c level that makes it necessary for you to be on medication. While an A1c of 6.5% or higher is indicative of diabetes, some people may need to start taking medication for an A1c under 6.5%. And others with an A1c over 6.5% aren't prescribed any medication.

Is an A1C of 7 OK?

The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%. If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range. If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.

Can A1C 7 be reversed?

Type-2 diabetes is said to be reversed (in remission) when your HbA1c remains below 6.5% (or <48mmol/mol) for at least six months without the help of anti-diabetic medications. This reversal of diabetes remains possible for at least 10 years after the onset of the condition.

How can I lower my A1C level 7?

At what A1C level does damage start?

5 Blood vessel damage can start at A1C levels above 7%. The risk of complications significantly increases at A1Cs above 9%.

7 Overlooked Reasons Why Your A1C May Be Inaccurate

What happens if my A1C is 7?

Your A1C Result

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. Within the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range, the higher your A1C, the greater your risk is for developing type 2 diabetes.

What A1C level requires treatment?

What A1c levels require medication/treatment? There is no specific A1c level that makes it necessary for you to be on medication. While an A1c of 6.5% or higher is indicative of diabetes, some people may need to start taking medication for an A1c under 6.5%.

Can I get my A1C down without medication?

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.

What foods to avoid if your A1C is high?

How fast can A1C drop in 3 months?

Remember what your A1C measures: your average blood sugars over the past three months. The good news is that if your A1C is on the high side, say, 10% or higher, it will likely start to drop within two to three months (in other words, the higher it is, the faster it comes down).

Can A1C drop in 2 weeks?

It's important to understand that lowering your A1C levels is a gradual (slow) process. As discussed, your A1C, unlike a blood glucose test, measures your average blood sugar over a period of 2 to 3 months. This means, it can take up to 3 months to notice significant changes in your A1C.

Will cutting out sugar lower A1C?

Avoiding carbs altogether would make your blood sugar levels lower and eventually lower your A1C levels.

Can I lower my A1C in 2 weeks?

As mentioned before, your A1C level test measures your blood sugar level concentrations over three months; therefore, lowering your A1C is not going to happen overnight it may take the same amount (up to 4 months) to see any results. However, it is attainable if you work on some factors.

At what A1C level should you start metformin?

Recent guidelines recommend considering use of metformin in patients with prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL, 2-hr post-load glucose 140-199 mg/dL, or A1C 5.7-6.4%), especially in those who are <60 years old, have a BMI >35 kg/m², or have a history of gestational diabetes.

When should I start taking diabetes medication?

Diabetes medications. If you can't maintain your target blood sugar level with diet and exercise, your doctor may prescribe diabetes medications that help lower insulin levels or insulin therapy.

Can you have a high A1C and not be diabetic?

Yes, you can have a high A1C level and not have diabetes. This is because an A1C test measures the amount of glucose that's attached to hemoglobin. So anything that affects hemoglobin can alter the results. Certain medications, such as steroids, can also raise blood glucose levels in people who don't have diabetes.

What can throw off your A1C?

A1C tests can be affected by changes in red blood cells or hemoglobin. Conditions that change the life span of red blood cells, such as recent blood loss, sickle cell disease link, erythropoietin treatment, hemodialysis, or transfusion, can change A1C levels.

Can a high A1C be reversed?

Some researchers also suggest that A1C can be improved by a low-carbohydrate diet in the absence of weight loss (see a review of evidence here). However, without accompanying weight loss, a low-carb diet may not address the fatigued beta cells that are at the root of type 2 diabetes.

What are signs of high A1C?

Does walking help lower A1C levels?

Type 2 Diabetes: A 2012 study of 201 people with type 2 diabetes found that every additional 2,600 steps of walking each day was associated with a 0.2% lower A1c.

What level of A1C requires insulin?

Insulin therapy will often need to be started if the initial fasting plasma glucose is greater than 250 or the HbA1c is greater than 10%.

What is the A1C goal for diabetes by age?

Overarching goals set by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are for an HbA1c <7.5 percent in healthy older adults, <8.0 percent in older adults with complex or intermediate health status, and <8.5 percent in those with very complex or poor health [21,22].

What is a normal A1C level for a woman over 50?

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%. Normal eAG is below 117 mg/dL or 6.5 mmol/L. If someone's A1C levels are higher than normal, they may have diabetes or prediabetes. Their doctor might order a repeat test to confirm this.