Diabetes is a chronic condition that needs lifelong management. Not only does exercise reduce blood glucose during exercise, but it also improves your insulin sensitivity for hours after your workout, meaning that you need less insulin. Influence of iron deficiency on Hb A1c levels in type 2 diabetic patients. For athletes, too many lows can limit performance, for someone who is pregnant it should be <6%, for an older person the target should be higher. Physical activity helps your body use insulin more efficiently, so it can better process the glucose in your blood. My doctor will probably take me off the metformin because of the control I have with diet /exercise. Endocrinology and Metabolism 298, no. But generally, people who start out with higher A1Cs tend to see greater reductions than those who have lower numbers to work with. This means that there is very high risk of blindness if proper treatment is not started immediately. 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). If you were to have a constant BG of 8.4mmol/L for 2-3 months, you'd come in with an A1c of around 6.9% (52mmol/mol). If your A1C is between 5.7% to 6.4%, this suggests that you have prediabetes. In fact, one small 2015 study involving people with diabetes and untreated sleep apnea found that each hour reduction in sleep duration was tied to a 4.8 percent increase in A1C levels. I will explain why time-in-range is just as important as a low A1c later in this guide. People with type 2 diabetes are advised to keep their levels below 7% to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease and other problems associated with elevated blood sugars. Pregnancy with Type 2 Diabetes: https://diabetesstrong.com/pregnancy-type-2-diabetes/ For lunch, she has a salad with a baked potato, or brown rice with a hearty bean chili. As discussed, your A1C, unlike a blood glucose test, measures your average blood sugar over a period of 2 to 3 months. In general, it should not be needed to carb up to do up to 60 minutes of steady-state cardio, but there can be situations where reducing insulin before exercise cant be done, so additional carbohydrates must be consumed. Siwasaranond N, et al. However, it may not be a good idea to lower your A1c so quickly, as I will explain below. In fact, according to one 2022 research review, between 4 percent to 12 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes actually have latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA). With concerted effort, A1c levels can drop quite dramatically. Not all laboratories perform this test so it is important to ask your doctor which one she or he recommends. That means lower blood sugar and can mean lower A1C levels. When it comes to lowering a1c through food and exercise, there is no definitive answer. He is the co-founder of Mastering Diabetes and Amla Green, and is an internationally recognized nutrition and fitness coach who has been living with type 1 diabetes since 2002. The A1c test result is reported as a percentage. The diet is the opposite of the popular keto/Atkins type diets that are low carb and high fat. Do you know what a good A1c target is, how to lower your A1c, and how quickly you can lower your A1c safely? Some guidelines state that your blood sugar range should be set to 70-180 mg/dl (3.9-10 mmol/l), but you may find that to be too large or small of a range for you. Within 3 months, I'd lost 20 pounds and my A1C was 6.2; I continued my exercise and eating changes and 3 months after that, I was down 30 pounds and A1C was 5.3. How do you feel when your blood sugar is too high? Diabetes is a long-term disease, so slow steps to establish new habits that can last a lifetime is the way to go. Curbing nearsightedness in children: Can outdoor time help? People with a life expectancy of less than 10 years, or those who have advanced forms of dementia, emphysema, or cancer; or end-stage kidney, liver, or heart failure. In a 2015 report, doctors noted that you can manage LADA with the same regimen that people with type 1 diabetes use. It means that dropping A1C below 7% or even below 6.5% is quite realistic. First, weight gain and total body swelling. Its also very possible that you simply are running your blood sugar a little too high all the time and could benefit from adjusting your diabetes medication. This, A new study found that drinking one additional cup of coffee each day was linked to a 4 to 6% lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Hong JW, et al. You can decrease your A1C by decreasing your blood glucose levels after meals and at night. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Lifestyle change should be the cornerstone of treatment for type 2 diabetes. All rights reserved. One easy, accurate way for us to measure a persons blood sugar over time is the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level, which is basically the amount of sugar stuck to the hemoglobin molecules inside of our blood cells. How much can A1c drop in 3 months? I hope this guide has given you the knowledge and tools to do so! According to this interview with several diabetes experts, most recommend that you spend less than 3% of the time below 70 mg/dl (3.9 mmol/l) and less than 1% of the time below 53 mg/dl (3 mmol/l). Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal. Yes, uncontrolled blood sugars can lead to very bad things, but patients should get all the information they need to balance the risks and benefits of any blood sugar control plan. It was a rough summer. An A1C test is a blood test that reflects your average blood glucose levels over the past 3 months. Lower Your A1c and Get to Your Ideal Body Weight Guaranteed, Your results are guaranteed. I used to eat a ton of fruit but those days are gone. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Because A1c is simply a measure of your average blood sugar over 2-3 months, it can (in theory) decrease by any amount over that time period. There is the added consideration that elderly and sick patients often end up on a long list of medications that can (and do) interact, causing even more side effects. I have seen firsthand how enthusiastic attention to the A1c can be helpful as well as harmful for patients. How much can your A1C drop in 3 months? Your RBC's (red blood cells) have a life span of approximately 90 days. Rather than feeling as though things happen to her, she feels like she now sits in the drivers seat of her metabolic health for the first time in her life, and understands how to lose weight, how to reduce her A1c, how to feel more energy, and how to reverse chronic disease. Thus, the A1c test reflects the average of a persons blood glucose levels over the past three months. Whats more, one 2015 study found that sleep disturbances could link to higher levels of A1C and impaired blood sugar levels. While exercise is essential for building and maintaining good health and improving insulin sensitivity, it can be a double-edged sword if it constantly throws your blood sugars for a loop. All right reserved. Experts advise filling about half your plate with vegetables that are low in starch, such as carrots, greens, zucchini, or tomatoes. Since the average lifespan of red blood cells is three to four months, one can still see a significant drop in A1C levels. Heres the big picture. Setting a regular sleep schedule, avoiding caffeine later in the day, and limiting screen time before bed may be beneficial to ensure you get enough sleep each night. In fact, you may even benefit from a slightly higher A1c with fewer blood sugar fluctuations. Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults) Its called the high carb low fat diet. Insulin sensitivity was not modified by the intervention. However, an A1C result of 6.0% or higher indicates that someone's blood glucose level is high enough to cause problems for them. How much can A1C drop in 3 months? Helping children who are neurodiverse build friendships, Preventable liver disease is rising: What you eat and avoid counts, Easy ways to shop for healthful, cost-conscious foods. Immediately following her diagnosis, she committed to a plant-based lifestyle and never looked back. Since having my first A1c test in December 2021 revealed a 6.7. Reviews and testimonials of specific diets and approaches to health represent individual experiences, and Mastering Diabetes does not guarantee any results for your specific situation. 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l. This device is designed for at-home glycemic control monitoring and provides reliable readings in five minutes. In a typical day, she eats fruit for breakfast with chia seeds and cinnamon. How A1c is calculated. More than a 3 point drop in 7 weeks. Dropped mine from 11.9 to 5.5 in under 3 months everything got better, including my vision. An A1C result between 8.0% and 10.0% indicates severe diabetic retinopathy. However, you dont have to follow a low-carb diet if it doesnt work for you physically or mentally. Adjusting your medication is an important tool in your diabetes toolbox and something you should always discuss with your medical team. Now that you have a better idea of what your pain points are, you can start making changes to your diabetes management. Huge Multi Retweeted. He co-created the Mastering Diabetes Method to reverse insulin resistance in all forms of diabetes, and has helped more than 10,000 people improve their metabolic health using low-fat, plant-based, whole-food nutrition, intermittent fasting, and exercise. 6 Things You Should Know About Type 2 Diabetes. I have a very ambivalent relationship with my A1c myself. A normal A1C is below 5.7%. As you have said, you get 2 test kits. The a1c test shows the level of glucose in the blood over the past 3 months. And, quite honestly, thats really silly. Higher percentages indicate that you have had high blood sugar for a longer period of time. Having watched her aunts health deteriorate as a result of uncontrolled diabetes, Tina was determined to do everything in her power to maximize her diabetes health to avoid the same fate. The test will give you a picture of your journey with diabetes as a whole. A1C levels below 7% are considered normal. I will get back to what a normal A1c level is for people living with diabetes below. Without doubt, each of these benefits trumped the temptation of fried foods and refined carbohydrates. I read on line where metformin can reduce A1C an average of 1.5%. Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, andmore. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00661.2010 Please advise. 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. Cant remember how far maybe 13.3 or 4 the last time I was tested at the lab. Other times of the year that the test may be done include after an illness or trauma that affects both blood glucose and insulin levels, such as surgery or an injury. I had a chance to asked Dr. Anne Peters, MD, Director, USC Clinical Diabetes Program and Professor of Clinical Medicine Keck School of Medicine of USC as well as Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, owner and Clinical Director of Integrated Diabetes Services and author of Think Like a Pancreas, what their perspectives are on a good A1c target: The A1c target should be whatever is best given the persons clinical situation. Avoid extreme diets or rapid weight loss programs, which could cause your blood glucose levels to drop dangerously low. I love dates which are a high sugar fruit. The key thing to be aware of is that when protein and especially fat is consumed with carbohydrates, the energy from the meal will be released more slowly, which means that your blood sugars will be impacted more slowly as well. 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