Posts Tagged ‘Diabetes’

What is Hemoglobin A1C, Anyway?

Comments: 0December 4th, 2011 by admin



If you have diabetes, then I am sure that you have had – or are about to have – a battery of blood tests. One of those tests is the A1C test that every diabetic is required to have. So what is it?

The A1C test measures the percent of glucose-containing red blood cell molecules in the bloodstream. Now, I realize that none of that makes sense until you understand what all of these words mean.

Hemoglobin A is a protein in red blood cells that is used to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When glucose molecules combine with hemoglobin A in the bloodstream, the hemoglobin A1C molecule is created. Following me? Good. Now here is the kicker: the more glucose in the bloodstream, the more hemoglobin A1C molecules are created. Right? Right. Now that we understand that part, we can go on to what the A1C test measures.

The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin A1C molecules that have formed in the bloodstream. If you have your A1C tested and the result is say, 5, then 5% of the hemoglobin A in the bloodstream has glucose stuck to it and has become hemoglobin A1C. Make sense? In other words, if your A1C is 5, then 5% of the hemoglobin in the bloodstream is hemoglobin A1C. For those of us with diabetes, it is suggested that we try and keep the A1C at or below 7 percent. It is also suggested by the American Diabetes Association that the A1C test be repeated every three months to check for consistency.

Understanding diabetes is tough. Hopefully, understanding the A1C is not.

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Know Your ABC’s

Comments: 0September 4th, 2011 by admin



Last month I discussed the purpose of evaluating your hemoglobin A1C. I decided to devote a whole blog on this topic because working in a diabetes clinic I am amazed how many of my clients are unaware of this lab. Many of these people have been diagnosed with diabetes for numerous years. However, your A1C is one piece in preventing the complications of diabetes. When controlling your diabetes you need go back to basics and learn the ABC’s. Your ABC’s are:

A = A1C

This lab measures your long term blood glucose control. You should have this lab at least three times a year. The recommended value from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) is less than 7%. The American Academy of Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends an A1C of less than 6.5%.

B = Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a sign of hypertension. You need to have your blood pressure measured every time you visit your doctor. Hypertension increases your risk for stroke (CVA), retinopathy (blindness), nephropathy (kidney disease) and neuropathy (nerve damage). The goal is less than 120/80.

C = Cholesterol

High cholesterol increases your chance for a heart attack or stroke because it clogs your arteries. You should test your cholesterol at least once a year. Your goal should be to get your LDL cholesterol (lousy) cholesterol to less than 100mg/dl and your HDL cholesterol (healthy) cholesterol to greater than 50mg/dl. Also, your triglycerides (TG) should be less than 150mg/dl.

How do you improve your ABCs’? I wrote last month frequent monitoring of your blood glucose along with counting carbohydrates and taking your diabetic medications properly should improve your A1C. If you lose weight, stop smoking, exercise, reduce stress in your life and eat less salt and fat, you should improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition, some people will need medications to improve their blood pressure and cholesterol. People with diabetes have a higher chance of having a heart attack or stroke than the rest of the population so improving your blood pressure and cholesterol is important.

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Treat Diabetes With Cinnamon

Comments: 0November 6th, 2010 by admin



Sweet potatoes, pumpkin pies, and yams are usually what you associate cinnamon with. These are generally only served or eaten around the fall or major holidays. But did you know that while you were eating those foods the cinnamon that was in them was helpful for your body? If you have diabetes it was even more helpful. You can treat your diabetes with cinnamon to help alleviate this disease. And it is a natural product that is readily available and inexpensive. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get it. Check out how why you should eat this more often than on the next Thanksgiving holiday.

Diabetes is a disease that is caused by your body’s inability to process the glucose in your bloodstream. It then causes your body to become insulin resistant. Cinnamon actually helps your body to react to insulin so that it can be processed. Once that happens you’ll notice a difference in your body. You’ll feel like you did prior to getting the disease.

As your insulin starts reacting your body can now function by itself without prescriptive aids. It will being to remove the excess glucose in your bloodstream. This will lower your glucose level. This is how your doctor determines that you have diabetes. When your “sugar” levels aren’t lowered after you eat foods you are often diagnosed as being diabetic or pre-diabetic. This doesn’t have to be you. You can reverse these symptoms.

You can stop the vicious cycle that diabetes creates. For less than one dollar you can purchase it from your local grocery store in the spice section. Everybody has at least one dollar towards the improvement of their health. You only need to consume one teaspoon of this spice a day. You can start adding this to your food or drinks to make sure you get this everyday. For those of you this isn’t as hard as it might seem. Baked sweet potatoes or toast spinkled with cinnamon are easy to incorporate. And for those of you that aren’t big on cooking you can even take it as a pill by purchasing it (which will cost more) or making the pills by hand yourself. If you like you can even add it to your favorite smoothie or health drink. If you feel that the cinnamon is too overpowering to your tastebuds. Whatever method you choose make sure you do take it everyday to get the desired results.

As you can see it isn’t difficult to treat diabetes with cinnamon. You can sneak it into foods or drinks. You really aren’t changing your eating habits that much, but you’ll see a big difference in the quality of your health. The cost to try it is low and the benefits are high. Anyone with diabetes can do this to improve themselves. And you won’t have the many side effects that are listed on the bottle of glucophage or generic diabetes medicines that you are currently taking. So save yourself some money, and see for yourself what this spice can do.

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Posted in Diabetes

Can Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

Comments: 0July 2nd, 2010 by admin



First let’s know what Cinnamon is. The cinnamon is obtained from an evergreen tree which is harvested in the rainy season. The actual cinnamon is produced by drying inner howl of such trees. The cinnamomum zelyanicum tree produces the high quality cinnamon. The cassia cinnamon is another type of cinnamon which is slightly different form the zelyanicum cinnamon. The original and true cinnamon can be found in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal. The cinnamon is mostly used in baking and also in cooking. Due to its mind blowing aroma and unusual flavor it is very popular all around the world.

The ‘insulin’ in the human body controls and reduces the blood sugar level. The blood sugar problem occurs when the insulin works irregularly. According to some people the cinnamon helps insulin to perform its duty.

Can cinnamon lower blood sugar? It is a controversial question. Some people say that the cinnamon does not help to lower the blood sugar. Some people say that the cinnamon can be effective with type-2 diabetes. According to a group of researchers, a little amount of cinnamon can help the type-2 diabetic patients. These researchers performed the cinnamon test on type-2 diabetic patients. The researchers supplied 1 gram of cinnamon for 90 days. These patients continued their regular care while using cinnamon. Hemoglobin A1c is the type of blood cell which is measured to recognize the blood glucose levels. The researchers found 0.83% of hemoglobin A1c decrease in these patients. The researchers concluded that the cinnamon can effect doubly than regular blood sugar treatment. This study makes some people to believe that the cinnamon can be used for blood sugar control.

According to another study which was done in Pakistan in 2003, researchers found that the cinnamon can help to maintain the blood sugar level. They performed cinnamon test on 60 people having type-2 diabetes for 40 days. They found the effect of cinnamon even after 20 days. For this study they used the true cinnamon. They also used the cassia cinnamon for their study. The researchers divided 60 peoples in two groups. They supplied cinnamon capsules 3 times a day for one group and placebo (dummy medication) capsules for another group. The results from both the group made researchers to believe that the 1 gram of daily cinnamon can help to lower the blood sugar with type-2 diabetes patients.

Due to lack of enough evidences and some previous studies the use of cinnamon against diabetes makes it disputable.

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Diabetes Blood Sugar – The Normal Blood Glucose Ranges

Comments: 0February 5th, 2010 by admin



It is a fact of life for diabetics; they need to spend quite a bit of time pricking their fingers and measuring the amount of sugar, or glucose, found in their blood. There are a number of different tests that can be done, and it is now recommended that if you have diabetes you should check your blood glucose levels several times a day. But how do you know whether or not you have normal blood glucose levels? What exactly are normal blood glucose ranges? Are they the same for everyone or are they different once you have been diagnosed with diabetes?

It would be best for everyone, including diabetics, to have their blood sugar levels fall into the normal category. Some people with diabetes, however, find that to be an unrealistic goal. If you have diabetes, you should use the charts as a guide, but you should also make a plan with your doctor that includes realistic goals for you. It is also necessary that you monitor your glucose as your doctor tells you to; it is your best tool for keeping your diabetes in check.

The American Diabetes Association has a diabetes blood sugar chart that includes normal blood glucose ranges for diabetics. The goal is to keep your sugar levels within those ranges all the time.

A1C test.. below 7%
Before meal… 70-130
After meal… less than 180

Included in this diabetes blood sugar chart is the American Diabetes Associations recommends for proper blood pressure. Diabetes is known to affect the cardiovascular system, so maintaining your blood pressure at less than 130/80 is important, too. It is also important to know your cholesterol levels, and to adjust your lifestyle or medications if necessary.

The American Diabetes Association advises:

HDL: greater than 40
LDL: less than 100

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Evaluate Your A1C

Comments: 0January 2nd, 2009 by admin



You have been diagnosed with diabetes, you take your medications and you check your blood sugar (sometimes). You are doing a good job, or so you think. You go to your doctor’s appointment and he informs you that your hemoglobin A1C is too high and your diabetes medications need to be adjusted. You leave the doctor’s office thinking, “What is a hemoglobin A1C?” In this blog I will explain what a hemoglobin A1C lab is, why it is important and how to improve it.

1. What is a hemoglobin A1C?

Hemoglobin is a protein in your blood. A percentage of sugar attaches itself to this protein. The more sugar you have in your blood, the greater the percentage of your A1C. People without diabetes have less than 6% of sugar attached to their hemoglobin. People with diabetes typically have more.

2. Why is it important?

The hemoglobin A1C is important because this lab measures your average blood glucose. For example, if someone has an A1C of 10%, this person has an average blood sugar of 275mg/dl. This value is above the recommended range. The American Diabetes Association recommends you maintain an A1C of less than 7% or 170mg/dl. However, just decreasing your A1C by 1% will significantly reduce your chance of suffering side effects of diabetes (i.e. kidney disease, amputation, blindness).

3. How do I improve my A1C?

You need to monitor your blood sugar more frequently. Many people with diabetes only check their blood sugar in the morning. Your fasting blood glucose does not give you the big picture. You need to check your blood sugar before you eat a meal (pre-prandial) and two hours after a meal (postprandial). These values will tell you if you are eating too many carbohydrates or if your diabetic medications are working. If your insurance only gives you one or two test strips a day, pick your biggest meal of the day to check your blood sugar. You can also ask your doctor for more test strips. Many doctors are willing to provide you extra test strips if the result is better blood glucose control.

If you have any questions regarding this topic or any of my blogs, email me at askard@stablebloodsugar.com. Allison

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