What is A1c?
Hemoglobin A1c is a blood test:
* Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease that attacks the beta cell of the pancreas causing destruction of insulin production.
*Type 1.5 diabetes is also known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood (LADA), which is a slower progression of type 1 diabetes diagnosed over the age of 30.
*Both type 1 and 1.5 diabetes require daily insulin injections to survive. A balanced diet and routine exercise will minimized fluctuation of blood sugar and minimize risk for long term complications.
*Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease caused by insulin resistance preventing the body from using insulin properly.
*The pancreas continues to make insulin, but more insulin is required to breakdown the same amount of glucose over the years, causing high glucose level.
*Type 2 diabetes management requires a balance diet, routine exercise, and multiple medications to minimize high blood sugar and decrease risk for long term complications.
*Cystic fibrosis diabetes*Gestational diabetes*Maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
*Steroid induced diabetes
*Type 3c diabetes Treatments for these types of diabetes vary depending on the cause and may or may not require insulin
Type 1 and 1.5 (LADA) diabetes are caused by autoimmune disease leading to insufficient ins production. Type 2 is the most common diabetes, which your body build up insulin resistant over the years leading to high blood sugar. Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed around the 24th week of pregnancy with normal blood sugar prior to and after pregnancy.
Hemoglobin A1C is the percentage of your blood sugar average for the last 3 months. The reading from your finger pricking is your blood sugar level at the time that you checked. Your provider uses both of these numbers to determine your treatment course.
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause devastating long term complications, which can be fatal. Untreated Type 1 and 1.5 diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening condition. Diabetes coma, although rare, can happen with extreme high or severe low blood sugar level. However, you can minimize your risks for complications by monitoring blood sugar closely, maintain a healthy diet, exercise routinely, take your medications as prescribed, and follow up with your provider routinely.
Genetic is definitely a contributing factor in both types of diabetes. Risk for Type 1/1.5 is around 10% if one parent has Type 1diabetes. Genetic contribution is more prominent with Type 2 diabetes. Risk for developing diabetes is 50% higher than the general population if both parents have Type 2 diabetes. Certain population groups are also more prone to develop diabetes. However, you can decrease your risk for diabetes by maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits.
The important thing is to have an exercise routine. This will also help to control your weight – an essential part of diabetes management. Doctors generally recommend aerobic exercise, such as walking, jogging, dancing or cycling, unless you have problems with your feet – a problem many diabetics experience. Swimming is often recommended as it places no strain on the feet. Any exercise that makes you breathe more deeply and that makes your heart work harder, is beneficial. It's important to check your blood-sugar levels before starting to exercise and to wait a while before starting if it's too low.
People feel low blood sugar symptoms at different levels. However, lower blood sugar is defined as blood sugar less than 70mg/dl. Talk to your provider on how to treat your symptoms if you're symptomatic when blood sugar is above 70.
Blood sugar level means the amount of glucose in the blood. Glucose is needed by the body as the basic energy fuel for all cells. Most of the glucose in the blood comes from the digestion of carbohydrates.
Foods that have a high sugar or fat content, such as pastries, cakes, chocolates, chips, sweets and desserts should be avoided. If eaten at all, it should be in very small quantities. Fruits are high in carbohydrate and will raise your blood sugar, especially banana, grapes, and orange. Minimize fruit intake to 1 serving to avoid high blood sugar.
