What level A1C should you be on to take metformin?

Recent guidelines recommend considering use of metformin in patients with prediabetes (fasting plasma glucose 100-125 mg/dL, 2-hr post-load glucose 140-199 mg/dL, or A1C 5.7-6.4%), especially in those who are <60 years old, have a BMI >35 kg/m², or have a history of gestational diabetes.

What is a good A1C for a diabetic on medication?

The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%. If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range. If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.

When should you start taking metformin?

While metformin isn't always immediately prescribed when it's discovered you have prediabetes, it is given to high-risk patients or to those who are having a difficult time managing their HbA1C with diet and exercise. Your doctor will be the one to decide if or when you should take metformin.

How high does your A1C have to be to be put on insulin?

Insulin therapy will often need to be started if the initial fasting plasma glucose is greater than 250 or the HbA1c is greater than 10%.

What is the ideal A1C for type 2 diabetes?

The goal for most people with diabetes is 7% or less. However, your personal goal will depend on many things such as your age and any other medical conditions. Work with your doctor to set your own individual A1C goal.

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At what A1C level does damage start?

5 Blood vessel damage can start at A1C levels above 7%. The risk of complications significantly increases at A1Cs above 9%.

What is a good A1C for a 60 year old?

A doctor might recommend A1C targets of 7.0–8.5% if a person: is older and has a shorter life expectancy.

Does your A1C go up with age?

In summary, in the current study, the uniform results between FOS and NHANES establish clearly that A1C increases with age even after multivariate adjustments for sex, fasting, and 2-h postload glucose.

What foods to avoid if your A1C is high?

What is a normal A1C for seniors?

The key measure of diabetes control is hemoglobin A1c. For healthy over 65ers with long life expectancy, the target should be 7.0 – 7.5%.

Should I take metformin if I am prediabetic?

Metformin can't cure your prediabetes. But, by helping control your blood glucose, it can help prevent type 2 diabetes, especially among those at highest risk for developing type 2 diabetes. When you have prediabetes, you tend to have higher-than-normal blood glucose.

What foods should I avoid while taking metformin?

As much as possible, avoid white bread, white rice, white pasta, candy, soda, desserts, and snacks like chips or crackers. Eating foods that can spike your blood sugar will not necessarily make the metformin not work, however, it will increase the burden it has to work against.

How quickly does metformin lower A1C?

Metformin does not instantly reduce blood sugar levels. The effects are usually noticeable within 48 hours of taking the medication, and the most significant effects take 4–5 days to occur.

What A1C is no longer diabetic?

Remission is when your HbA1c — a measure of long-term blood glucose levels — remains below 48mmol/mol or 6.5% for at least three months, without diabetes medication.

How much does 500mg metformin lower A1C?

With metformin, your A1C (Glycated hemoglobin) can be reduced between 1 and 1.8 points, says Albanese. And you may even lose a little weight.

How can I get my A1C down fast?

What is the best fruit to lower A1C?

Citrus fruits

Although many citrus fruits are sweet, research shows that they may help reduce blood sugar levels. Citrus fruits are considered low glycemic fruits because they don't affect blood sugar as much as other types of fruits like watermelon and pineapple ( 50 ).

What drinks lower A1C?

Do bananas help A1C?

Green (unripe) bananas contain resistant starch, which doesn't raise blood sugar levels and may improve long-term blood sugar management. Yellow (ripe) bananas contain more sugar, so they may cause a bigger rise in blood sugar.

What drink lowers blood sugar?

Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best.

Can you have a high A1C and not be diabetic?

Yes, you can have a high A1C level and not have diabetes. This is because an A1C test measures the amount of glucose that's attached to hemoglobin. So anything that affects hemoglobin can alter the results. Certain medications, such as steroids, can also raise blood glucose levels in people who don't have diabetes.

Can A1C return to normal?

Diabetes is most often diagnosed when someone has hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c—a measure of blood sugar levels) greater than or equal to 6.5%. For diabetes to be reversed, a person would need to have HbA1c below the diabetic range, indicating that blood sugar has improved without the use of medications such as insulin.

What should my 70 year old A1C?

For functionally independent older adults, the IDF recommends an A1C goal of 7–7.5%, whereas for functionally dependent, frail patients or patients with dementia, an A1C goal of 7–8% is recommended.

What is normal A1C for 62 year old woman?

Ans. As per the recommendations of ADA, an A1C level below 5.7% is normal.

Is 6.5 A good A1C for a diabetic?

For patients who want to live a long and healthy life and try to avoid the complications of diabetes, they will need to keep their blood sugars as normal as possible — that means an A1c under 6.5%.