I've just had a surprising test result for my long term glucose level!
My haemoglobin A1C result puts my glucose level where I should take proactive steps to reduce my weight, especially around my midriff.
My recent doctors appointment basic health checks came back normal. I decided to test my glucose daily with a meter and my results came back within the normal range, so I wasn't overly concerned and since I began a weight loss program by going with low carbohydrates and high fat diet LC/HF.
However the gold standard for assessing blood glucose is to have the A1C test. This eliminates the daily photo shot test results from a standard glucose test. The basic idea behind the long term test is that when glucose is present in the blood stream, some of it sticks to the blood cells and doesn't get released. Blood cells last around 3-4 months before they die and are replaced by the body. So being able to read this level of (sticky) glucose is a perfect marker to gauge long term levels.
Now the shocker, some 25% of adults don't know they have diabetes and 90% don't know they're pre-diabetic! If you don't know you're pre-diabetic then then is a high probability you and I will develop full blown type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
I now will have to change my lifestyle long term to reverse my A1C glucose. I will test again in 4 months time to see if my level has began to drop. Its not a rapid process and can take quiet a long time, especially if the healthy diet isn't maintained.
I paid for my test online, via Lloyds pharmacy ( its the diabetes test ), but your GP should conduct the A1C test especially if you have a weight issue and raise your concerns about your health. The test involves a small blood sample from a pin prick in the skin to be sent to a laboratory. My result came back in less than 48 hours
90% don't know- get checked
My haemoglobin A1C result puts my glucose level where I should take proactive steps to reduce my weight, especially around my midriff.
My recent doctors appointment basic health checks came back normal. I decided to test my glucose daily with a meter and my results came back within the normal range, so I wasn't overly concerned and since I began a weight loss program by going with low carbohydrates and high fat diet LC/HF.
However the gold standard for assessing blood glucose is to have the A1C test. This eliminates the daily photo shot test results from a standard glucose test. The basic idea behind the long term test is that when glucose is present in the blood stream, some of it sticks to the blood cells and doesn't get released. Blood cells last around 3-4 months before they die and are replaced by the body. So being able to read this level of (sticky) glucose is a perfect marker to gauge long term levels.
Now the shocker, some 25% of adults don't know they have diabetes and 90% don't know they're pre-diabetic! If you don't know you're pre-diabetic then then is a high probability you and I will develop full blown type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
I now will have to change my lifestyle long term to reverse my A1C glucose. I will test again in 4 months time to see if my level has began to drop. Its not a rapid process and can take quiet a long time, especially if the healthy diet isn't maintained.
I paid for my test online, via Lloyds pharmacy ( its the diabetes test ), but your GP should conduct the A1C test especially if you have a weight issue and raise your concerns about your health. The test involves a small blood sample from a pin prick in the skin to be sent to a laboratory. My result came back in less than 48 hours
90% don't know- get checked