Diabetes is a serious, life-long condition that causes further complications without proper care and treatment. With the right treatment and lifestyle changes, living a healthy and normal life with diabetes is possible.
If you have a history of type 2 diabetes in your family, getting tested is imperative as the condition often doesn’t show any symptoms in its early stages. The earlier you get a diagnosis and put on a treatment plan, the better.
AC1 Test
The AC1 test is administered for two purposes; the first is to check whether you have type 2 diabetes, and the second is to regularly monitor how well your body is responding to your type 2 diabetes treatment plan. The test reveals information about your blood sugar levels for over the past 2-3 months. The test uses a percentage scoring system in which a higher score equals higher blood sugar levels.
The AC1 test is used to check for type 1, type 2, and the likelihood of diabetes. A score of under 5.7% is considered normal as per the National Institutes of Health, and a score of 5.7%-6.4% means prediabetes, which increases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes within the next ten years.
3 Tips to Lower Your A1C
- Check your blood sugar regularly
Follow your physician’s directions and checking your blood sugar on your schedule is crucial even when he or she is tracking your AC1. Keeping track of your activities/food intakes in correspondence with your blood sugar levels can also help you and your physician immensely. A journal would work, which would also function as a list of reminders for activities and foods that shot up your blood sugar.
- Be active
Physical activity lowers your AC1 levels immeasurably. Many studies show that being active and regular exercise lower the risk of diabetes. Even short walks, taking your dog out for a walk, and moving around the house will do, so it doesn’t need to be a full-on workout every time. Just move as much as possible.
- Healthy diet with sensible proportions
Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to prevent and manage diabetes but not with unhealthy diets. Lifestyle changes that you will want to stick with are required to achieve such a goal. Counting calories, your carb intake, and fat consumption on a daily basis are also paramount, but there are even apps that you can take advantage of to keep track of your daily nutritional intakes. A sensible diet rich in vegetables and fruits and low in fat and carbohydrates can make all the difference. Avoid starchy foods like potatoes, breads and baked goods, sugary drinks (even juices), and processed foods. Portion control is key, however, in every case.
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