If you are diagnosed with prediabetes (5.7% - 6.4%), your blood glucose levels are above normal, but below diabetes levels. There are no clear symptoms of prediabetes, so you may not know you have it. And, although prediabetes can later develop into type 2 diabetes, it doesn’t have to be that way.

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.

A general guideline for A1c testing is:
Every 6 months if your last A1c was in goal range
Every 3 months if your medications have changed or your last A1c was not in goal range

Your doctor may report your A1c results as eAG or “average glucose.” Your eAG reading directly correlates to your A1c value, but it is reported in mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter), the same unit of measurement shown on blood glucose meters and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) used at home.

The catch is that eAG/A1c is not the same average glucose level as the average of the readings on your meter. Monitoring measures your blood glucose at a moment in time, whereas eAG/A1c represents an average of your glucose levels 24 hours a day, including times when people are less likely to check their blood sugar (for example, post-meal periods of higher blood sugar).

The American Diabetes Association suggests an A1c of 7 percent for nonpregnant adults, which is an eAG of 154 mg/dL, but more or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for each individual. To convert your eAG reading to A1c and vice versa, use this calculator.

The following symptoms of diabetes are typical, however, some symptoms are so mild that they may go unnoticed. Early detection and treatment of diabetes can decrease the risk of developing complications.

• Frequent urination
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry even though you are eating
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Cuts and bruises that are slow to heal
• Weight loss even though you are eating more
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet

Gestational diabetes occurs in up to 10 percent of pregnancies in the US every year. It is not known what causes it, but we do know that women who develop it can still have a healthy baby. We also know that women who acquire it did not necessarily have diabetes before becoming pregnant, nor will they necessarily continue to have it after giving birth. However, acting quickly after diagnosis is very important for the health of the mother and baby. Beginning treatment early is crucial to combatting gestational diabetes.

When you consume food or beverages with carbohydrates (carbs) your body breaks them down into sugar (glucose), raising glucose levels in your blood. In people without diabetes, the pancreas releases insulin to help your cells absorb the excess glucose. When blood sugar goes too high, it’s known as hyperglycemia. When blood sugar drops too low, it’s known as hypoglycemia.

Both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia can be dangerous if they aren’t treated promptly, resulting in potentially life-threatening conditions, so it’s important to act quickly to restore blood sugar to normal levels.

If you have diabetes or prediabetes and are trying to lower your A1c, the best foods to eat are whole, unprocessed, non-starchy vegetables. These mostly green, leafy vegetables have few carbohydrates, so they have the least impact on your blood sugar.

• Lettuce
• Cucumbers
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Green beans

Healthy foods that contain starchy carbohydrates are fine to eat as well, but in smaller quantities. These include fruits, intact whole grains, and some starchy vegetables like:

• Apples
• Berries
• Cantaloupe
• Brown rice
• Whole wheat bread
• Oatmeal
• Corn
• Sweet potatoes

Foods to avoid eating include refined, highly processed carbohydrates and foods with added sugar, including:

• Soda
• Sweet tea
• Fruit juice
• White bread
• White rice
• Sugary cereal
• Sweets and candy
• Chips