By starting with these tools, you can figure out which next steps are best for you. Whether it’s losing a few pounds, adding some physical activity to your day or making healthier food choices.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss these tools and find the best next steps to lower your risk.
One minute for your risk
Millions of American adults have prediabetes, but here’s the kicker: the majority of them don’t even know it. The test you need is right here—it just takes 60 seconds of your time.
To find out if you’re at risk go to diabetes.org to take the risk test or click Here.
Take the A1C test.
It can identify prediabetes, which raises your risk for diabetes. It can be used to diagnose diabetes. And it’s used to monitor how well your diabetes treatment is working over time. It’s also a critical step in forming your game plan to manage diabetes with your diabetes care team.
The big picture: monitoring treatment
This relatively simple blood test can tell you a lot. The test results give you a picture of your average blood sugar level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications. Your doctor will tell you how often you need the A1C test, but usually you’ll have the test at least twice a year if you’re meeting your treatment goals. If you’re not meeting your goals or you change treatments, you may need to get an A1C test more often.
So, what do the numbers mean?
When it comes to the numbers, there’s no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person’s age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else’s. The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%.
A1C test results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. The A1C test can also be used for diagnosis, based on the following guidelines:
- 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.
Finally: A1C is also defined as ‘estimated average glucose,’ or eAG
Another term you may come across when finding out your A1C is eAG. Your doctor might report your A1C results as eAG. eAG is similar to what you see when monitoring your blood sugar at home on your meter. However, because you are more likely to check your blood sugar in the morning and before meals, your meter readings will likely be lower than your eAG.
Body Mass Index
Your Body Mass Index (BMI) is based on a quick and easy calculation of your weight and height. The BMI Calculator can help you find out if you need to lose weight and how much weight you need to lose. Knowing this can help you set a weight loss goal.
If you have a lot of weight to lose, your goals may be different. For example, if you are very overweight, your goal might be to 10% of your current weight. Or you may just set a short-term goal to lose 10-15 pounds to start.