What is a 6.5 A1C?

6.5% or above. 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.
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Is an A1C of 6.5 reversible?

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

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%.
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Is 6.5 considered diabetic?

The A1C test measures your average blood sugar level over the past 2 or 3 months. An A1C below 5.7% is normal, between 5.7 and 6.4% indicates you have prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher indicates you have diabetes.
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How can I get my A1c down quickly?

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.
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A1C Test for Diabetes, Animation



How do I bring my A1c down?

Here are nine ways to lower your A1C:
  1. Make a food plan. Eating the right foods is essential to lowering your A1C, so you want to make a plan and stick to it. ...
  2. Measure portion sizes. ...
  3. Track carbs. ...
  4. Plate method. ...
  5. Have a realistic weight loss goal. ...
  6. Exercise plan. ...
  7. Take medications. ...
  8. Supplements and vitamins.
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What foods will lower A1C levels?

The 10 Best Foods to Control Diabetes and Lower Blood Sugar
  • Non-Starchy Vegetables. Non-starchy vegetables are one of the best foods you can eat as a diabetic. ...
  • Leafy Greens. ...
  • Fatty Fish. ...
  • Nuts and Eggs. ...
  • Seeds. ...
  • Natural Fats. ...
  • Apple Cider Vinegar. ...
  • Cinnamon and Turmeric.
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At what level of HbA1c do you start insulin?

Insulin should be initiated when A1C is ≥7.0% after 2–3 months of dual oral therapy. The preferred regimen for insulin initiation in type 2 diabetes is once-daily basal insulin.
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At what A1C level does damage start?

Studies show a direct correlation between high A1C and severe diabetes complications. 3 An A1C level above 7% means someone is at an increased risk of complications from diabetes, which should prompt a person to make sure they have a plan in place to manage their blood sugar levels and decrease this risk.
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What foods to avoid if your A1C is high?

Importantly, eating certain foods can raise your blood sugar and insulin levels and promote inflammation, which may increase your risk of disease.
...
  • Sugar-sweetened beverages. ...
  • Trans fats. ...
  • White bread, rice, and pasta. ...
  • Fruit-flavored yogurt. ...
  • Sweetened breakfast cereals. ...
  • Flavored coffee drinks.
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Can Walking lower my A1C?

When you do moderate exercise, like walking, that makes your heart beat a little faster and breathe a little harder. Your muscles use more glucose, the sugar in your blood stream. Over time, this can lower your blood sugar levels. It also makes the insulin in your body work better.
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What drink lowers blood sugar?

When participants in the study drank one cup of chamomile tea after meals three times per day for six weeks, they showed a reduction in blood sugar levels, insulin, and insulin resistance.
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What A1C level requires 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.
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How much can I lower my A1C in a month?

If you, from one day to the next, decreased your daily average blood sugar from 300 mg/dl (16.7 mmol/l) to 120 mg/dl (6.7 mmol/l), your A1c would decrease from 12% to 6% in around two months. However, it may not be a good idea to lower your A1c so quickly, as I will explain below.
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What is my A1C if my blood sugar is 170?

An A1c of 7% is approximately equal to an average blood sugar of 170 mg/dL, with each 1% increase corresponding to an increase of 35 mg/dL in average blood sugar, e.g. a A1c of 8% = 205mg/dL on average.
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Is HbA1c 6.5 good?

What's a Normal Hemoglobin A1c Test? For people without diabetes, the normal range for the hemoglobin A1c level is between 4% and 5.6%. Hemoglobin A1c levels between 5.7% and 6.4% mean you have prediabetes and a higher chance of getting diabetes. Levels of 6.5% or higher mean you have diabetes.
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What are the symptoms of high HbA1c?

Symptoms
  • Increased thirst.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Increased hunger.
  • Fatigue.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Numbness or tingling in the feet or hands.
  • Frequent infections.
  • Slow-healing sores.
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Which is better insulin or metformin?

Metformin(Glucophage) is usually the first pill that doctors prescribe for type 2 diabetes. (You can take it as a liquid, too.) Metformin lowers the amount of blood sugar that your liver makes and helps your body use insulin more effectively.
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Is banana good for diabetes?

Bananas are a safe and nutritious fruit for people with diabetes to eat in moderation as part of a balanced, individualized diet plan. A person with diabetes should include fresh, plant food options in the diet, such as fruits and vegetables. Bananas provide plenty of nutrition without adding many calories.
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Are eggs good for diabetics?

Protein-rich foods like eggs can play an important role in regulating blood sugar levels for people with diabetes. Plus, eggs contain many essential vitamins and minerals, and have just 80 calories each.
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What fruit should diabetics avoid?

Dried fruit, fruit juice, and certain tropical fruits, like mangoes, tend to contain more sugar. It may be a good idea to limit portions or eat these foods less often. Some canned fruit has added sugar or is packaged in syrup.
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Can drinking water lower A1C?

Drink water and stay hydrated

One review of observational studies showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels ( 19 ). Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ).
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Can Apple cider vinegar lower A1C?

The review reports that apple cider vinegar caused a small, significant reduction in HbA1c results after 8–12 weeks. HbA1c levels reflect a person's blood glucose levels over many weeks or months.
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Does Oatmeal Lower A1C?

The pros of adding oatmeal to your diabetes eating plan include: It can help regulate blood sugar, thanks to the moderate to high fiber content and lower glycemic index.
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