Knowing HbA1c Test

Diabetics know all about blood sugar checks. Many diabetics have to check their blood sugar several times daily, especially Type 1 diabetics. 

In recent years, a test has been introduced that can check the average of blood sugar levels over a few weeks or even months. The Hemoglobin A1c or HbA1c Test looks for glycated hemoglobin. This is produced when hemoglobin in the red blood cells pick up the glucose in the blood (glycated). The glucose hangs around for a while so when doctors measure this test, they can get a bigger picture of how you are doing with your diabetes treatment.

The HbA1c is also referred to as the "A1c" and if the numbers with this test is higher than before, your treatment may need to be adjusted and you are at higher risk of long-term complications. Read on for more information about this test.

What Is HbA1c Test？

An HbA1c test helps doctors see how well diabetes treatment plans are working for their patients. Doctors can also use it as a screening exam to check for diabetes. You may have also heard it called by the names: hemoglobin A1c, A1c or glycohemoglobin A1c.

The doctor can look at this test and see what your blood sugar levels have average over the last few months. This is because hemoglobin in red blood cells pick up glucose and it tends to stay within the hemoglobin cells for a while. The higher the blood sugar/glucose level, the more glucose the hemoglobin absorbs. When this happens, the HbA1c reads high and the doctor will know that the blood sugar levels have been high over the last few months.

The doctor will need to re-evaluate the treatment plan and possibly send you to a diabetic educator. This is done to prevent complications from high blood sugars over a long period of time. These include: 

• Eye damage/disease 
• Heart disease 
• Stroke 
• Damage to nerves 
• Damage to small blood vessels 

When & How Often Should You Take HbA1c Test?

When you are first diagnosed with diabetes, the doctor will initially run your first HbA1c Test to see where you are at. The American Diabetes Association recommends, "If glucose levels are stable, then HbA1c testing can be done twice yearly." If your blood sugar levels are not stable it is recommended for your doctor to run the test quarterly until your levels stabilize.

Using this test can help your doctor see if your current treatment plan is working or not. When the doctor works with the HbA1c numbers, research shows that the risk of long-term complications is drastically reduced.

What Is a Normal Reading for HbA1c Test?

The normal reading for an HbA1c test is between 4 and 5.6. Here is the breakdown of the ranges used to diagnose and monitor diabetes: 

• 4 to 5.6 – Healthy, no diabetes and minimal risk for getting diabetes 
• 5.7 to 6.4 – Pre-diabetes/high risk for future diabetes 
• 6.5 or higher – Diagnosis of diabetes and higher numbers mean your diabetes needs careful monitoring 

What Are the Limitation of HbA1c Test?

The HbA1c cannot help monitor daily blood sugar levels since they are an average of a few months. This also means that the test cannot monitor the fluctuations during the day and the differences from night to morning and vice-versa.

There are some health conditions that can show false elevated HbA1c levels and this must be taken into consideration. These include kidney disease, alcoholism, high triglycerides in the blood. If you suffer from sickle cell, thalassemia or have blood loss your A1c may show lower numbers.

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The Risks of Belly Fat

The Risks of Belly Fat -- and How to Beat Them ...The Natural Way

One of the most common questions I get is “how to lose belly fat?“. Belly fat is actually the most dangerous type of fat – besides aesthetics, large waist lines are indicators of –disease-disease-disease.

Did You Know That Not All Belly Fat Is The Same?

The most harmful abdominal fat, the hardest one to get rid of. By cleansing your liver, helping normal bile flow, reducing fat absorption into the fat cells, regulating your lipid and cholesterol metabolism. Prevents your blood vessels from forming atherosclerotic plaques.

This visceral fat in your middle makes toxins that affect the way your body works, says Samuel Dagogo-Jack, MD, president of the American Diabetes Association. Among them are chemicals called cytokines that boost your chances of heart disease and make your body less sensitive to insulin, which can bring on diabetes.

Cytokines also cause inflammation, which can lead to certain cancers, says Eric Jacobs, PhD, a researcher at the American Cancer Society. In recent years, he says, scientists have uncovered links between belly fat and cancers of the colon, esophagus, and pancreas.

The Hidden Health Risk Continued...

How can you tell if your belly fat is putting your health at risk? That part is easy. No special blood tests or scans are required. All you need is a tape measure. The size of your waist says it all.

The higher the number, the greater the danger your tummy poses to your health.

• For women, a waist measurement of 34 inches + more is cause for concern. 
• For men, a waist measurement of 38 inches + more could spell trouble. 

“If you have to move to a bigger pants size, even if your weight is considered normal for your height, or even if you haven’t noticed much weight gain, that’s an important sign it’s time to start watching your abdominal area."

“If your waist has already reached the “+“ size, you may want to consider dropping a couple of pounds from your abdominal area. Proper supplement, targeting specifically belly fat can be very effective.

A Tough Change To Make

Most of the time, that’s easier said than done. Is it worth the effort? Dagogo-Jack points to several studies that he says show the “spectacular” effects of even modest weight loss in preventing the onset of diabetes and other problems.

That should be great news for the 54 million people who have the high blood sugar levels that put them in the prediabetes category. Once you have it, type 2 diabetes is likely to follow within a decade.

Dropping belly fat can be a challenge. If you feel your efforts aren’t giving you the results you want...

...Here Are 5 Steps To Change Things Up:

1. Skip the fruit juice. 

It might seem like a healthy swap for sugary colas, but it’s not. All the fat-reducing fiber in the fruit has been removed, leaving only the pure fruit sugars that go straight to your waistline.

2. Eat your veggies. 

They should fill up at least half your plate, especially at your biggest meal. Choose more nonstarchy varieties (think leafy greens, broccoli, and beans) than their carb-filled kin (potatoes, corn, and carrots).

3. Choose proper supplement. 

Claims vs. reality. Your choice should focus on product that is formulated with abdominal fat in mind. Ingredients such as Caralluma Fimbriata, Lychee Exctract, Green Tea, Irvingia gabonensis are those which have been proven by clinical studies as the most effective in the fight for the waistline.

4. Go natural. 

Processed foods are not your friends. When you’re in a rush, it’s easy to overlook the fact that packaged foods are often loaded with trans fats, sugar, and salt -- all guaranteed to boost belly fat.

5. Keep your cool. 

The stress hormone cortisol can override your diet and workouts. When it goes through your body, fat deposits relocate to your belly area. Exercise and meditation can both be great ways to dial down your stress to nontoxic levels.

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