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Management of diabetes is all about knowing your numbers. If you are diabetic, checking your numbers and managing your lifestyle according to them is extremely important. There are many tests that help you check the diabetes symptoms and manage your diabetes well, but the most important one is the A1C test.
A healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet might prevent diabetes, but type 2 diabetes can still make its way to your life. If you are at risk of developing the disease or are experiencing diabetic symptoms, an early check-up may prevent not just diabetes but many other diseases as well. Hence, knowing your numbers and getting regular checkups will help you manage the symptoms that might develop into diabetes.
What Are Good Diabetes Numbers?
There are many tests that indicate diabetes or maintaining whose levels are important to manage diabetes.
A1C Test (Glycated Haemoglobin Test):
The A1C test measures the average blood sugar levels for the past 2 to 3 months and gives the results in the form of a percentage. For this test, you do not need to fast or drink any glucose tolerance drink. The A1C test helps your doctor understand the type of medication you need to manage the disease. It is the most widely used test to determine diabetes.
Diabetes Number: If your A1C percentage is 6.5 per cent or higher, it indicates you are diabetic.
Prediabetes Numbers: If your results are between 5.7 and 6.4 per cent, it indicates you are prediabetic.
Healthy Numbers: Below 5.7 per cent indicates a healthy A1C or no diabetes.
People with diabetes generally set a target to keep A1C below 7.
If you are diabetic, you will be required to take the A1C test at least twice a year.
Fasting Plasma Glucose Test (FPG):
Also known as the fasting blood glucose test (FBG), this test checks the blood sugar levels when you have not eaten anything. Therefore, for this test, you are required to not eat or drink anything except water for at least 8 hours before the test.
Diabetes Numbers: Diabetes is diagnosed if your FPG level is 126 mg/dL or higher.
Prediabetes Numbers: If your results are between 100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL, it indicates prediabetes.
Healthy Numbers: A fasting blood glucose level less than 100 mg/dL is considered normal or healthy.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT):
This test is used to understand how your body processes glucose. It is a 2-hour test, in which your blood glucose is measured before you drink a sugary drink prescribed by the doctor and then again 2 hours after you have consumed the liquid. It is mostly used to diagnose gestational diabetes in pregnant women.
Diabetes Numbers: If the OGTT result is 200 mg/dL or higher, it indicates you are diabetic.
Prediabetes Numbers: A oral glucose tolerance level from 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.
Healthy Numbers: Test results less than 140 mg/dL indicates that you are healthy and you don’t have diabetes.
Random Blood Sugar Test:
Also known as a random plasma glucose test, it can be done anytime during the day if you have severe diabetes symptoms.
Diabetes Numbers: If the random blood sugar test result is 200 mg/dL or higher, it indicates diabetes.
Chart for Diabetes Numbers:
| A1C Test | Fasting Plasma Glucose Test | Oral Glucose Tolerance Test | Random Blood Sugar Test | |
| Diabetes Numbers | 6.5 percent or above | 126 mg/dL or above | 200 mg/dL or above | 200 mg/dL or above |
| Prediabetes Numbers | 5.7-6.4 percent | 100-125 mg/dL | 140-199 mg/dL | N/A |
| Healthy Numbers | Less than 5.7 percent | Less than 100 mg/dL | Less than 140 mg/dL | N/A |
Benefits Of Knowing Diabetes Numbers:
Maintaining good diabetes numbers will help you prevent other diseases such as kidney failure, vision problems etc.
It will aid you in understanding what medications and lifestyle habits are working for you and what are proving to be detrimental. Blood sugar level tests will also help you understand the diet that is helping your body manage diabetes well.
It will help you prevent diabetes if you are at risk of developing the disease.
Diabetes numbers might reveal if you are prediabetic. This will help your doctor to prescribe you proper medications and lifestyle approach.
You will be able to aim for target diabetes numbers and manage the condition more effectively.
