Why is monitoring blood sugar (glucose) levels important?
One of the most prevalent diseases in the United States today is type 2 Diabetes. There are several factors that determine whether you are likely to develop this disease including diet and exercise habits, genetics, and even ethnicity. Even if your family heritage includes several family members who have developed this incurable disease, monitoring your Fasting Blood Glucose levels and A1C are important steps you and your health provider can take to drastically reduce the likelihood you will develop this disease or delay its onset.
What do these numbers mean?
Fasting Blood Glucose (aka FBG or Glucose) is a blood sample taken after overnight fasting and are labs your healthcare provider will check annually in either a basic or comprehensive metabolic panel (BMP or CMP). The ideal range for this level to be is less than 100 with typical numbers ranging from mid 70s- mid 90s. Prediabetes is indicated when FBGs are consistently between 100-125 and diabetes is indicated by a FBG of 126 or greater 2 times.
A1C is a blood test that measures the average of your blood glucose levels over the past 3 months. This is a separate test from a BMP or CMP and is often added when a FBG is unexpectedly elevated and helps in determining your diagnosis. Normal A1C is less than 5.7%, Prediabetes levels will range from 5.7 – 6.4%, and Diabetes levels will be 6.5% or greater.
While type 2 Diabetes cannot be cured, its onset can be delayed or even reversed if your blood sugars are closely monitored.
The Health Care Team at LFHC is devoted to helping you live your best life! As a DPC Provider, LFHC is not bound to the insurance model of “appropriate” healthcare. We will monitor your FBG and A1C levels with annual draws for those with low-risk factors, as well as more frequent draws for those who are Prediabetic or Diabetic. with on-site lab draws and help you understand your results. We are dedicated to helping you make the necessary changes to reverse Prediabetes and provide guidance to maintaining optimal glucose control for those who are Diabetic.