Imagine thinking your blood sugar is perfect because your fasting glucose is fine, but actually, there’s a silent bomb ticking inside your body! Yes, you read that right. The HbA1c test, often overlooked, reveals the true average blood sugar level over the past three months. While home glucose meters show only the current value, HbA1c tells if you’re on the road to diabetes or already have high sugar without knowing it.
What is HbA1c? It’s hemoglobin in red blood cells that binds to glucose molecules. The higher your blood sugar, the more glucose binds to hemoglobin. That’s why the HbA1c test measures the average blood sugar level, not just a snapshot. Even better, no special preparation or fasting is needed for this test.
Why does it matter? Because a high HbA1c means a greater risk of serious complications like eye damage (retinopathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), and even amputations. But don’t panic! These complications develop only after years of chronically high sugar.
How to lower HbA1c? The first step is lifestyle changes: better diet, more physical activity, and weight loss. If that’s not enough, doctors prescribe medication, usually metformin, and if needed, other drugs or insulin.
So, if you thought you were safe because your fasting glucose is normal, maybe it’s time to check your HbA1c and learn the real truth. Don’t let the silent sugar epidemic catch you off guard! And hey, if you have a funny or scary diabetes story, drop it in the comments — maybe you’ll make us laugh or warn us all!
Source: zdravlje.kurir.rs, health.harvard.edu
