hemoglobin a1c hga1c is high?

Question

I don't have history of diabetes nor have family history of it. Recently during my annual check up, my hemoglobin a1c is high 6.7% and 6.8% done within 1 week, while my fasting sugar is normal 108. Am i diabetic? Or do i have metabolic syndrome? I am guessing that my doctor would want me to have glucose tolerace test. If my glucose tolerace test is normal, with high hga1c test, am i still diabetic?

Answer 1

All the guidelines say that an HbA1c of less than 7 is of no diagnostic value. To clarify if you have diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, you need a glucose tolerance test. Or the other check is a fasting venous glucose (not a finger stick) higher than 126 on 2 separate occasions.

Answer 2

Your A1c shows that you are definitly diabetic, no matter what your fingerstick fasting number was. and it was a bit on the high side, indicating probable "pre" diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome has a large number of factors to it other than the glucose numbers.

I recommend you change your lifestyle, like yesterday!!! Eat low carb, no more white foods, very few tan, yellow or orange foods and lots of salads and a serving (3 or 4 ozs of some meat) and up your movement schedule to double whatever you are doing.

Go to library and read both of these books:
"Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year" and "Atkins Diabetes Revolution". They will answer a lot of your questions. Doctors have the nasty habit of patting us on our butts and saying stupid things like "Watch the sugar!"

Answer 3

a fasting sugar of 108 is NOT normal, and an a1c over six is a diagnosis of diabetes. Suggest your physician should have told you that. Sounds like the doc may be soaking you for lab tests. You should be started on Metformin and go to a nutritionist for guidance on controlling your diet.

Answer 4

There is a lot of stuff on the internet that is basically fat-shaming diabetics for causing their own diabetes with their bad diet and lack of exercise and general lack of moral fibre. A lot of this stuff is written by non-doctors, often with a supplement or diet or training plan to sell that they claim will completely cure diabetes if only people stick to it.

I read this interesting book https://tr.im/HvL5f that gave me a lot of useful tips about my disease and also a different perspective on the best therapeutical approach. I think you should read it too. 

I hope it helps