So for many years I tried to hide the fact that I knew my blood sugar was elevated after fasting overnight. (In other words, after I wake up.) I’d eat no sugar the day before I had a physical at the doctor’s office where I knew they would draw blood and ask for a urine sample. I’d take cinnamon to hopefully make my numbers look better, although that is highly debated as to its affect on sugar. For years I felt I outsmarted being told I was diabetic. Ridiculous thinking, really. I’m not proud of it!
THEN a couple of years ago, the doctor ordered an A1C test. It basically gives a several month average of your sugar levels. It does this by measuring how the hemoglobin protein in your blood is coated with sugar. I couldn’t hide my high blood sugar any longer!
A1C levels are reflected as a percent usually from 5 to 14%. 5% being in the normal range. 6% in the pre-diabetic range. Anything above 5% … you need to work on! The higher your A1C percent, the higher the chance for diabetes complications.
It is a good gauge on how well the diabetes is being managed. And you can’t hide your numbers, so don’t try!
