From the Guidelines
An A1c of 5.7% corresponds to an estimated average blood glucose level of approximately 117 mg/dL (6.5 mmol/L). This A1c value sits right at the threshold between normal and prediabetes according to most clinical guidelines 1. At this level, your average blood sugars have been slightly elevated over the past 2-3 months, which is the timeframe that A1c measures. While not yet in the diabetic range (which starts at 6.5%), this value suggests you may benefit from lifestyle modifications to prevent progression to diabetes.
Key Considerations
- Focus on regular physical activity (aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly)
- Weight management if needed
- A diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates while limiting refined sugars and processed foods
Monitoring and Prevention
- Monitor your blood glucose periodically, especially if you have risk factors like family history of diabetes or are overweight
- The relationship between A1c and average blood glucose exists because glucose attaches to hemoglobin in red blood cells, which live for about 120 days, providing this useful measurement of your glucose control over time 1.
Clinical Guidelines
- According to the American Diabetes Association, an A1C level of 5.7-6.4% is considered prediabetes, and individuals with this level should be informed of their increased risk for diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease and counseled about effective strategies to lower their risks 1.
- An A1C of 5.7% is associated with similar diabetes risk to the high-risk participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) 1.
Recommendations
- Individuals with an A1C of 5.7% should be considered to be at high risk for future diabetes and should be counseled about effective strategies, such as weight loss and physical activity, to lower their risks 1.
- Interventions should be most intensive and follow-up should be particularly vigilant for those with A1C levels above 6.0%, who should be considered to be at very high risk 1.
From the Research
Average Blood Sugars with an A1c of 5.7
- The relationship between A1c levels and average blood sugars is crucial for managing diabetes.
- According to the study 2, an A1c of 5.7% is associated with a lower risk of diabetes, but the exact average blood sugar levels are not directly stated in the provided studies.
- However, it is known that an A1c of 5.7% is considered below the threshold for diabetes diagnosis, which is 6.5% 2.
- The study 3 discusses maintaining mean A1c <6.5% in people with dysglycemia, but does not provide specific information on average blood sugars for an A1c of 5.7%.
- Other studies 4, 5, 6 focus on treatment options and glucose-lowering therapies for type 2 diabetes, but do not provide direct information on average blood sugars for a specific A1c level of 5.7%.