HBA1C 6.8% - What it means, average sugar level, diet and exercise

An Hba1c value of 6.8% probably means that you are diabetic. Additional testing is usually required before a confirmatory diagnosis can be made. This article tells you what your average sugar value is, and how to incorporate diet and exercise in your lifestyle to improve your sugar control.

Does an HBA1C level of 6.8 confirm diabetes?

A diagnosis of diabetes can only be done if two seperate values of HBA1C are above 6.4%. A combination of a glucose tolerance test and an hba1c are usually done to confirm diabetes. Read the section on diagnosis of diabetes at the bottom of this page for more information.. With your HBA1C level of 6.8, you should test on another occassion, or get an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test done. Ypur doctor will interpret these two values before giving you a diagnosis.

What is my average sugar value with an HBA1C of 6.8% ?

Based on the formula used to convert HBA1C to 3 month average glucose levels, your estimated average glucose is 148.5 mg/dl. Please note that this is an approximate value.

What are the symptoms of an HBA1C of 6.8% ?

Diabetes is associated with a wide variety of sympotms. With an HBA1C value of 6.8 %, you may find some of these symptoms : Fatigue/sleepiness,Lack of concentration,Weight loss,Blurred vision,Increased thirst

Can exercise help lower an HBA1C value of 6.8% ?

HBA1C levels can be improved to a great extent by following a regular and consistent exercise plan. Exercise helps in various ways, by reducing insulin resistance, improving uptake of glucose by muscles and also helps loose weight. The following are some types of exercise that you can do on a weekly basis. Remember that the American Diabetes association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise a week for diabetics.

Aerobic Exercise Plan for HBA1C 6.8%

Monday	Interval training (moderate intensity) - 40 minutes
Tuesday	Rest day
Wednesday	Swimming (vigorous intensity) - 40 minutes
Thursday	Dancing (moderate intensity) - 45 minutes
Friday	Rest day
Saturday	Rowing (vigorous intensity) - 30 minutes
Sunday	Jogging (moderate intensity) - 30 minutes

Resistance Exercise Plan for HBA1C 6.8%

Monday	Squats,Chest press,Lat pulldown,Shoulder press,Tricep dips
Tuesday	Rest day
Wednesday	Lunges,Bicep curls,Seated row,Leg press,Plank
Thursday	Rest day
Friday	Deadlifts,Push-ups,Pull-ups,Overhead press,Tricep pushdowns
Saturday	Rest day
Sunday	Rest day

Balance Exercise Plan for HBA1C 6.8%

Monday	Yoga
Tuesday	Tai chi
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	Balance exercises
Friday	Rest
Saturday	Lower body resistance exercises
Sunday	Core resistance exercises

Stretching Exercise Plan for HBA1C 6.8%

Monday	Balance exercises
Tuesday	Yoga
Wednesday	Tai chi
Thursday	Static stretching
Friday	Dynamic stretching
Saturday	Rest
Sunday	PNF stretching

What kind of meal plans or foods can I eat with an HBA1C of 6.8%?

Low glycemic index foods, combined with a good exercise regimen can help control your sugar. Here we have suggested some meal plans, one each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They include foods recommeded in diabetes.

Breakfast meal plan for HBA1C 6.8 %

breakfast

Whole wheat pancakes topped with sliced bananas, a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and a handful of mixed nuts. Include a side of scrambled egg whites.

Lunch meal plan for HBA1C 6.8 %

lunch

Black bean and vegetable wrap with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and salsa. Serve it with a side of brown rice and a small side salad.

Dinner meal plan for HBA1C 6.8 %

dinner

Turkey meatballs served with whole grain spaghetti and marinara sauce. Include a side of steamed green beans and a small side salad.

What medications should I take for an HBA1C of 6.8%?

Medication should only be started after consulting a registered medical practioner and diabetlogist. Medications to be given vary with the level of HBA1C. For your HBA1C of 6.8%, the following strategy is to be considered: Single oral hypoglycemic medication like Biguaides or DPP4 inhibitors or Sulfonylureas. After observing the response for 2-6 months, you should repeat you HBA1C. Further managment can be decided based on the HBA1C level at follow up.

What complications can arise with a HBA1C value of 6.8%?

Diabetes is associated with many complications, especially on other organs of the body. Here are a few complications that may arise with long standing diabetes : Heart diseases , kidney diseases, injuries to feet and toes, eye diseases of the retina, urinary tract infections etc.

Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes

There are 3 tests that are used for the diagnosis of diabetes. These include Fasting Blood Glucose, Glucose Tolerance Test and the HBA1C test. Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association recommend that a patient should be tested on two seperate days. If possible 2 different tests should be carried, instead of repeating the same test.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

In this test you need to be fasting for a period of at least 8 hours. A single blood sample is drawn. After this, you are given 75gm of glucose solution to drink. 2 hours later another sample is taken. The following table lists out the diagnostic criteria based on the results. Given your HBA1C value of 6.8 %, and an estimated estimated_average_glucose of 148.5 mg/dl, you should probably have a value above 200 on this test.

2 hour Glucose Value	Diagnosis
Less than 140	Normal
140 to 200	Prediabetes
More than 200	Diabetes

Fasting Blood Glucose

The value of your sugar after an overnight fast of 8 hours is called fasting blood glucose. A value above 126 mg/dl is indicative of diabetes.

HBA1C test

A value above 6.4% is indicative of diabetes.

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