This is a bone-building protein and correlates well with a person’s bone mineral density (BMD). Higher body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and waist circumference were all linked to significantly higher HbA1c [7]. People with anemia due to lack of iron, folate or vitamin B12 may have an elevated A1c without having d… When A1C levels fall, this means there is less glucose in the blood. Furthermore, some studies also found increased mortality in people with lower HbA1c values [79]. The target A1C levels are supposed to be individualized. Important Diabetes Tips From Experts (Who Are Also Diabetic), COVID-19 Decision Fatigue: What It Is and How to Deal With It. A study has shown that In people with diabetes, HbA1c increased by 0.4% after high-potency statin use [34]. Fatty liver is associated with higher HbA1c [59]. If you’ve been prescribed a medication that might affect your blood glucose levels or the accuracy of your A1c test, your doctor or pharmacist should discuss this with you. It can also be used to treat polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Some chronic conditions, such as periodontal (gum) disease, H. pylori infection, and chronic kidney disease increase HbA1c levels [16, 17, 18, 19, 20]. You know that it’s best to limit carbs, exercise regularly, check other medications for possible interactions, and avoid drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. The variability of HbA1c levels is equally important. It’s worth taking the time to talk to your doctor about the issue. Bone loss is a complication of diabetes characterized by osteoporosis, increased risk for bone fractures and alterations in bone metabolism [66]. An A1c of 5.7% to 6.4% means you are at risk for diabetes. Chronically elevated glucose, measured by HbA1c, was also disruptive for the heart function [57]. Low HbA1c can be caused by conditions that decrease red blood cell levels, alcohol, liver disease, some drugs and supplements, and genetic hemoglobin disorders. If you’re experiencing major life changes — whether good or bad — it’s important to practice good self-care. Though the exact causes are unknown, the obesity epidemic is one likely culprit. Optimize Your Lab Results to Strengthen Your Immune System! Increased risk of heart disease was found with higher HbA1c levels in both those with established diabetes and in non-diabetic adults [53, 54, 55]. Both diabetics and nondiabetics with higher HbA1c values are more likely to have hardened arteries. The effects, though, may vary by drug. Even the best life changes — a new love, a big promotion, or buying your dream home — can lead to an increase in the hormones associated with stress. To do this, an A1C test averages the percentage of sugar-bound hemoglobin in a blood sample. Heavy alcohol use can falsely increase HbA1c levels. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), about 10 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes actually have latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA). Read on to learn about the causes and health risks of high HbA1c. Causes shown here are commonly associated with high HbA1c. An enlarged spleen is another condition that destroys red blood cells and decreases HbA1c [14]. In 6.5 nondiabetics, high-normal HbA1c levels were independently associated with arterial stiffness [51, 52]. A1C is an integrated measure of circulating glucose levels and tracks well in individuals over time. In a study of 417 diabetics, those reporting pain were more than twice as likely to have HbA1c levels > 8% (64 mmol/mol) [42]. Conditions such as acute and chronic blood loss, hemolytic anemia, and splenomegaly can all cause falsely lowered A1c results. If you have a medical condition that affects your red blood cells, it can potentially influence your A1C test results. Higher HbA1c levels are linked with bone loss, which is especially dangerous for people with diabetes. Note that each number in parentheses [1, 2, 3, etc.] People with type 1 and 2 diabetes who have high HbA1c levels are more likely to suffer from fatigue. Some genetic hemoglobin disorders can falsely increase HbA1c levels, depending on the methods that a laboratory uses for testing [14]. Joe Cohen won the genetic lottery of bad genes. Pregnancy affects your blood sugar and may increase your risk for hypoglycemia. A study showed that H. pylori eradication treatment had beneficial effects on insulin resistance and favorably changed HbA1c in patients with normal glucose concentrations [19]. Additionally, high levels are linked with metabolic syndrome and obesity, which often progress to type 2 diabetes. Smoking increases HbA1c levels in both diabetic and nondiabetic people [8, 9]. Jonathan Ritter, PharmD, PhD (Pharmacology), The HbA1c test & normal, prediabetic, and diabetic ranges, 2 Benefits of Angelica Gigas + Side Effects, 8 Jackfruit Health Benefits + Nutrition & Side Effects. This is primarily due to the associated chronic anemia with decreased red cell survival” J Gen Intern Med. Both short and long sleep durations were associated with an increased HbA1c. For instance, certain variants can cause falsely high or low A1C test results depending on the method used. Once you understand what caused your A1C score to increase, you can figure out how to avoid what caused it to rise in the first place and begin decreasing the percentage of glucose in your hemoglobin. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. One easy, accurate way for us to measure a person’s blood sugar over time is the Since aging also increases glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and postprandial hyperglycemia, we tested the hypothesis that these factors explain the age-related rise in A1c. Obesity is associated with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance [5]. These associations were more pronounced in type 1 diabetes than in type 2 diabetes patients [64]. Increased HbA1c in nondiabetics, apart from being a risk factor for diabetes, has also been associated with heart disease and elevated all-cause mortality. When glucose enters the blood, it binds to a red blood cell protein called hemoglobin. If you currently have diabetes, your A1c goal may be 8% or lower. Plus, alcohol has a lot of calories. If you have diabetes, drinking alcohol may cause your blood sugar to either rise or fall. Your healthcare provider will decide what your goal should be. Hydroxyurea is used for the treatment of some leukemias and sickle cell disease. Learn about shared symptoms, challenges, therapy, and more. Causes shown here are commonly associated with low HbA1c. Thus, frailty or decline may be the main confounding factor explaining the relationship between increased mortality risk and low HbA1c [83]. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 9.3% of the American population is diabetic [4]. Your doctor will interpret this test, taking into account your medical history and other test results. The effect is dependent on the degree of anemia, as a study found that those with mild anemia did not show significant effects on HbA1c [11]. Diabetics with sleep apnea also tend to have higher levels. Hypothyroidism causes many metabolic abnormalities as well as multiple clinical symptoms. Keeping your levels in the normal range is the best step you can take to lower your overall risk of health problems. Studies show that treatments that improve gum inflammatory conditions helped decrease HbA1c levels [25, 26]. About three-quarters of patients with type 1 diabetes suffer from persistent fatigue. Any drug which causes the rupture or destruction of red blood cells can potentially lower HbA1c by increasing the proportion of younger cells in the blood. Certain types of anemia associated with decreased hemoglobin production or longer lifespan of red blood cells can elevate the proportion of hemoglobin present in the A1c form. You may also know that it elevates levels of the hormones that in turn raise blood glucose. In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), about 10 percent of people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes actually have latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA). If you miss doses regularly, your blood sugar numbers may creep up and cause your A1c to rise. Your email address will not be published. Health Risks of High Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Indeed, it has been noted that patients with diabetes who also have hypothyroidism may have higher levels of Hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C). Higher HbA1c levels were associated with increased mortality from all causes among nondiabetics, in a meta-analysis of 11 studies with over 113k people [79]. According to ADA President for Medicine and Science Vivian Fonseca, MD, The message is to choose an appropriate [blood glucose] goal based on the patient’s current health status, motivation level, resources and complications.. Stress, especially chronic stress, can raise blood glucose levels and increase insulin resistance, according to the ADA. Research suggests there is an association between oral hygiene practice and blood glucose levels in diabetes [23]. Ample evidence shows that elevated glucose can increase oxidative stress. It’s important to note that some prescription medications, such as interferon-alpha (Intron A) and ribavirin (Virazole), can impact A1c testing too. Metformin and Pregnancy: Is This Drug Safe? An increase in bilirubin levels (hyperbilirubinemia) that often accompanies liver disease can result in falsely elevated HbA1c levels [14]. Vitamin E can decrease the binding of glucose to hemoglobin, falsely decreasing HbA1c [14]. The A1C blood test measures how well the body maintains blood glucose levels by giving an average result for 2–3 months. Studies also suggest that there is an increased risk of new-onset diabetes with statin use [34]. According to some studies, both diabetics and nondiabetics with high HbA1c are at an increased risk of cancer. High HbA1c was also associated with a higher atherosclerotic burden in nondiabetic patients. A study of over 2.1k people who had a stroke reported that the risk for all-cause mortality was significantly increased when HbA1c level was > 5.5% compared to HbA1c < 5.5%, and it further dramatically increased 2 – 3 times in the highest HbA1c group ≥ 7.2% [80]. High HbA1c is linked with obesity, even in nondiabetics. Align your health hacks with your genes for optimal health & cognitive function. Other things that can affect the results of the hemoglobin A1c include supplements such as vitamins C and E and high cholesterol levels. Type 1 diabetes patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea had a trend toward higher HbA1c [31]. Vitamin C can do either, depending on whether your A1c test measures by electrophoresis, which can show a false increase, or by chromatography, which can return a false decrease. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing or periods of shallow breathing during sleep. Cortisone injections are commonly used for the treatment of a variety of orthopedic conditions. If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please leave a comment or contact us at [email protected]. The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. This association was more pronounced in women [45]. If your once-controlled A1c has spun out of control despite your best efforts, it’s possible you don’t have type 2 diabetes at all. This is also called prediabetes. This sounds wonderful and easy to understand. In this and other studies, an HbA1c above 5.7% was a suitable value for predicting future diabetes [2, 3]. Labs in the ‘normal range’ does not always indicate optimal health. Dehydration Drives Up Blood Sugar. Work with your doctor or another health care professional to get an accurate diagnosis. Before joining SelfHacked, she was a research scientist with extensive field and laboratory experience. A normal A1C measurement is less than 5.7%, while an A1C of 5.7% to 6.4% could suggest prediabetes, and an A1C of 6.5% or higher usually means diabetes. 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