What Number Should My Blood Glucose Be
Blood glucose is measured in mg/dl. The normal range for blood glucose for people without diabetes is 70 to 120 mg/dl.
The Diabetes Center has guidelines for blood glucose readings. This is called a target range. There may be times when your healthcare provider gives you a different target range, like for bedtime, with exercise, or after eating.
Nationwide Childrens Hospital Diabetes Center Target Blood Glucose Ranges
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The goal is to keep the blood glucose within the target range most of the time.
A1c Levels Chart For Pregnancy
A reasonable A1C goal for many nonpregnant adults is ,7% .For type 1,2 preexisting diabetes , its safe to reduce A1C below 6.5% , to minimize the risk of congenital anomalies.Management of Diabetes during Pregnancy, Accelerated red blood cell turnover is the reason behind decreased A1C in normal pregnant women than in normal nonpregnant women.The A1C target level in pregnancy is 66.5% .Optimal A1c level during pregnancy:It is 6% if this can be achieved without significant hypoglycemia, but the doctors may target A1c 7% to prevent hypoglycemia in pregnancy. In the second and third trimesters:To hit the lowest risk of large-for-gestational-age infants doctors must target A1C 6% ,because studies shown that 6.5% is related to increased adverse outcomes.Blood sugar target levels during pregnancy:The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists as well as the ADA-recommended targets for women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes as follows:
- Fasting #95 mg/dL and either
- One-hour postprandial #140 mg/dL or
- Two-hour postprandial #120 mg/dL
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Simple Conversion Formula For A1c From Average Blood Glucose
Now that you know what A1C is and what it measures let’s see how to calculate it. You can estimate it using a formula no more complicated than converting Celsius to Fahrenheit . All you need to do is apply your average blood glucose measurement to one of the following formulas:
If your blood glucose is in mg/dL , use this formula:
/ 28.7 = your A1C
If your blood glucose is in mmol/L , use this formula:
/ 1.59 = your A1C
If youâd like to read more about where these numbers come from, you can check out our source here.
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How To Calculate Your A1c
The Hemoglobin A1c test is a blood test used to measure the average blood glucose concentration in your body in the past 1-3 months. For diabetics, this is the standard way of determining how well the diabetes is controlled. An A1c of less than 7% is considered good. Getting the test every 3 months is usually enough. But sometimes you may want to just estimate your A1c level based on the data from your regular self-tests. The formula below could help in this case. Accuracy, of course, could vary depending on how often and when you check your blood sugar. I found it pretty accurate last time I used it. My calculation was off only by 0.1%. This is the same formula GlucoseTracker uses in the appâs dashboard. Glucose in mg/dL: A1c = / 28.7 Glucose in mmol/L: A1c = / 1.59 So, for example, if your average blood glucose level in the past 3 months is 130 mg/dL , your estimated A1c is 6.15%. There are also cheaper devices you can buy that will allow you to do the actual A1c tests yourself, like this one. If you need to do these tests more often, say every month, then it could save you money in the long run as lab tests could get expensive. It may not be as accurate as the lab tests, but my guess is itâs probably good enough.Continue reading > >
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A1c Is Changing To Average Mean Blood Glucose
A1C Translation to Estimated Average Glucose Units Will Yield Easier Patient Education. New more accurate formula used to convert A1c to average blood glucose.
A mathematical relationship between the average glucose level over the preceding three months and levels of the A1C test, thus yielding translation of the A1C for reporting as estimated average glucose , was proven in an international study published online in the August issue of Diabetes Care.
A1C has been used for more than 25 years as the major measure of glucose control and to establish targets for diabetes therapy. The findings of this large study have confirmed what smaller studies have shown and will give us confidence that A1C really does represent an average glucose because we now have a reliable formula to convert A1C into average glucose, said David M. Nathan, MD, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and cochair of the International A1C-Derived Average Glucose Study, in a recent interview. While eAG will not replace A1C, physicians will be able to obtain reports both in A1C units of glycated hemoglobin and eAG units of milligrams per deciliter or millimols per liter, depending on the country, and choose which to use in clinical situations.
Study investigators found a simple linear relationship. Although the tight and consistent relationship across different subgroups suggest that, for most people, there are no important factors that affect the relationship between A1C and average glucose.
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What Are The Risks Of Chronic High Blood Glucose Level
Increase your physical activity. You dont have to train to be an Olympic athlete, but you should strive to include a few short walks in your daily routine. Every step is crucial!
- Attempt to reach and maintain a healthy BMI .
- The BMI is the most fundamental indicator, but you should also consider your waist-hip ratio. A large amount of visceral fat has been related to an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.
- Maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet. If youre overweight, dont go over your daily calorie restriction, and attempt to eat even less. Say goodbye to processed meals and sweets.
- If you follow those recommendations, your hemoglobin A1C levels will almost certainly improve.
- A higher risk of cardiovascular disease, such as myocardial infarction or stroke.
- Theres a chance youll get chronic renal disease or perhaps kidney failure.
- Nerve injury and paresthesia are more likely.
- There is a high risk of retinopathy and vision loss.
- Infections, including as skin infections and mycoses, are common.
- Difficulties with conceiving,
- Diabetic foot, which could cause amputation!
They may diagnose you with diabetes if your A1C result is equal to or higher than 6.5 percent. If this is the case, make an appointment with your doctor away!
How Is The A1c Test Used To Diagnose Type 2 Diabetes And Prediabetes
Health care professionals can use the A1C test alone or in combination with other diabetes tests to diagnose type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. You dont have to fast before having your blood drawn for an A1C test, which means that blood can be drawn for the test at any time of the day.
If you dont have symptoms but the A1C test shows you have diabetes or prediabetes, you should have a repeat test on a different day using the A1C test or one of the other diabetes tests to confirm the diagnosis.2
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Quick A1c Calculator: All You Need To Know About A1c In 2017
Have you heard your doctor or friends mention the term A1C and wonder to yourself what in the world does it mean? Or its could be familiar word, but you never really understood what it meant for you? Fret not. After reading this, youll know exactly what A1c is, what your ideal A1c should be, and how you can estimate A1c using an A1c calculator/converter. And I promise Ill make it easy for you to understand. What does A1c stand for? HbA1C is a medical term, and refers to glycated haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying molecule in your red blood cells. So this is actually a measure of how much glucose is attached to the haemoglobin in your red blood cells. It is done as a blood test, usually ordered by your doctor every 3 6 months if you have diabetes. Youll see your result displayed as a percentage in your blood test report . Since your red blood cells typically live for approximately 8-12 weeks, your A1c number serves as a marker of your average blood glucose levels over the past 2 3 months. This is how a typical A1c result will look like in your blood test report. What is a normal A1c level? And how about in diabetes/ prediabetes? A healthy person has an A1c of 5.6% or less. A person with Prediabetes usually has a A1c between 5.7% and 6.4% A person is diagnosed with Diabetes when his or her A1c is more than 6.5%. The higher your average blood glucosContinue reading > >
Blood Tests For Diagnosis
Up to four blood tests can help diagnose diabetes and high blood sugar. These blood tests are trustworthy, and experts employ them to check the blood sugar level of people with diabetes-related symptoms. Patients may perform some of these tests themselves as glucose monitors are available to patients to self-test their blood sugar.
Typically, all tests rank blood sugar levels in numbers, and the higher the number or percentage, the higher the level of blood glucose. Among the different blood sugar tests available for treatments, the A1C and fasting plasma glucose tests are the most popular.
Subsequent sections consider how these two tests work and compare them against each other.
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How To Translate Your A1c To A Blood Sugar Level
An HbA1c reading on its own isnt very helpful unless you know what it really means about your daily blood sugar levels.
Understanding how your A1c accumulates over the course of 3 months and how it translates to an actual average blood sugar level is a critical part of diabetes management that is often never explained in the doctors office.
In this article, well talk about how AGEs lead to your A1c, how your A1c result translates to an eAG, and what you can do next with that information!
The Measurement Of A Normal Haemoglobin A1c Test
The chart alone is not enough to understand whether an individual has diabetes or not. But with the help of the A1c table, the doctor can identify diabetes by comparing the level with a particular range. The usual hemoglobin A1c level for an ordinary person is between 4% and 5.6%. In other words, the average blood sugar must not be higher than 7mmol/L or 126 mg/dL for an individual.
If the Haemoglobin A1c level is between 5.7% and 6.4%, it means there is a good chance of having diabetes in the future. It is called a Prediabetics stage. Prediabetics person is a wake-up call for a person. It means you are on the way to get diabetes soon. But it is yet to happen. Having Prediabetics means you have a chance to turn things around.
The A1c level from 5.7% to 6.4% indicates, your blood sugar level is higher than the level it should be. But, it is still not in the range of diabetes. You may call it the edge of getting diabetes. Prediabetics happens for a hormone called insulin. This hormone helps to control blood sugar in the human body. If your sugar level is between the Prediabetics stage, it means the hormone is not working even.
For a diabetic patient, the measurement of A1c blood sugar level is 6.5% or higher.
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What Is Hb A1c Test
The HbA1c test, or the glycated haemoglobin A1c test, is a blood test that can be taken at any time as you dont need to fast before taking the test. It indicates what your average blood glucose levels are over the past 3 months, by measuring the percentage of blood glucose that has attached to haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein found in red blood cells.
It is normal for all people to have some glucose attached to haemoglobin. In people with diabetes, the higher the blood glucose levels are, the more glucose you have attached to haemoglobin. A HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher, on two separate tests, can indicate that you have diabetes. Whereas a HbA1c level between 5.7 and 6.4% can indicate prediabetes. Levels below 5.7% are considered normal. In other words, higher A1c percentages indicate an increased risk of diabetes.
The HbA1c test should not be used alone to diagnose diabetes. It should be used in combination with other blood glucose tests.
When To Take A1c Test
If youre over 45 or under 45 and overweight, test your A1c conversion as a preventive measure. You should also think about it if you have any of the following diabetes risk factors:
- Diabetes in the family history .
- Low levels of physical exercise .
- Blood pressure that is too high.
- A high quantity of cholesterol in the blood
- Have you ever had gestational diabetes or given birth to a baby that weighed over 9 pounds?
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Is The A1c Test Accurate For Everyone
Since the A1C test has been made available , is has become a common way to measure glucose control. However, in the last several years some questions have been raised about potential limitations of A1C:
- Is the A1C accurate for everyone?
- It may not be accurate for some people, including people of African-American descent, people with liver and kidney disease, or with some anemias and sickle cell disease.
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Blood Glucose Conversion Tables
Millimoles per liter or milligrams per deciliter? There are two different ways of measuring blood glucose levels: It can either be in terms of a molar concentration, measured in mmol/L or a mass concentration, measured in mg/dL. Most blood glucose meters are prefixed to measure in one or the other. This avoids accidental switching which could be fatal. However, you still have to be aware of the different measurement units: If information are listed in the units your meter does not support, you need to convert the values. mg/dL 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 mmol/L 0.6 0.8 1.1 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.2 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.3 3.6 3.9 4.2 4.4 4.7 5.0 mg/dl 95 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 210 220 230 240 250 mmol/L 5.3 5.6 6.1 6.7 7.2 7.8 8.3 8.9 9.4 10.0 10.5 11.1 11.7 12.2 12.8 13.3 13.9 mg/dL 260 270 280 290 300 325 350 375 400 425 450 475 500 525 550 575 600 mmol/L 14.4 15.0 15.5 16.1 16.7 18.0 19.4 20.8 22.2 23.6 25.0 26.4 27.8 29.1 30.5 31.9 33.3 mmol/L in mg/dL, conversion factor: 1 mmol/L = 18,018 mg/dL mmol/L 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3 3.3 3.6 4 4.5 mg/dL 11 14 18 22 25 29 32 36 40 43 47 50 54 59 65 72 81 mmol/L 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 mg/dL 90 99 108 117 126 135 144 153 162 171 180 198 216 234 252 270 288 mmol/L 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 mg/dL 306 324 342 360 378 396 414 432 450 468 486 505 523 541 559 577 595 Hightlight productContinue reading > >
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Risks Of Chronic High Blood Glucose Level
You already know how to calculate A1c levels, but what should you do with the result? If your level is less than 5.7% congratulations this is a normal A1c level, and you have nothing to worry about. Maintain your healthy habits and keep your blood sugar level low.
If you drifted into the prediabetes group thats a red flag. Youre at a high risk of diabetes, but there is still hope. Check out the How to lower A1c? section for some hints. Do not neglect this result, as chronic high blood sugar levels can lead to severe consequences, including:
- Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases myocardial infarction or brain stroke
- Problems getting pregnant
- Diabetic foot, potentially leading to amputation!
If your A1c level is equal to or higher than 6.5%, you may be diagnosed as diabetic. If this is your result, book an appointment with your doctor immediately!
How Often Should You Have An A1c Lab Test
Your healthcare provider may order an A1C test every three months to monitor diabetes treatment changes, such as adjustments to medications, insulin pump settings, or other areas of diabetes self-management. If your blood glucose is within range and stable, your healthcare provider may only order the test every six months.
If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes, sometimes A1C is used along with other measures to help diagnose diabetes. It may also be used as a baseline measurement for people with a strong family history of diabetes or other risk factors to see if levels are increasing over time.
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Translating Your A1c To A Blood Sugar Level
Its easy to see an A1c result of 8.0 percent and think, Oh, my blood sugars are usually in-range. Everything is fine. But if you look more closely at what an 8.0 percent A1c really translates to as a blood sugar level, you may be surprised.
You can use this easy A1c/ eAG conversion chart from the American Diabetes Association to instantly translate your latest A1c result to an eAG.
You can read more about blood sugar levels in the post What are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?