Is an HbA1c level of 7.2 indicative of diabetes?

Hello Ms. Quyên,

1. What is the HbA1c level in the blood? Is an HbA1c of 7.2 high?

Glucose is a type of sugar in the blood that comes from the food you eat. Your cells use glucose to create energy. The hormone insulin helps glucose enter your cells. If you have diabetes, your body does not produce enough insulin or your cells do not use insulin effectively. As a result, glucose cannot enter the cells, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.

Glucose in the blood binds to hemoglobin—a type of protein in your red blood cells. When blood sugar levels rise, more hemoglobin becomes covered with glucose. The A1C test, or HbA1c level, indicates the percentage of your red blood cells that have hemoglobin covered in glucose

The HbA1c level can reflect your average blood sugar over the past three months because:

• Glucose binds to hemoglobin as long as red blood cells are alive.
• Red blood cells live for about three months.

A high A1C level indicates high blood sugar levels due to diabetes. Diabetes can cause serious health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage. However, with treatment and lifestyle changes, you can manage your blood sugar levels.

So, is an HbA1c of 7.2 high? Yes, an HbA1c level of 7.2 is above the normal range.

2. Does an HbA1c of 7.2 mean I have diabetes?

2. To diagnose diabetes or prediabetes, the following HbA1c percentage ranges are used:

• Normal: A1C below 5.7%
• Prediabetes: A1C between 5.7% and 6.4%
• Diabetes: A1C of 6.5% or higher.

Thus, an HbA1c of 7.2 suggests that you may have diabetes. However, if you have a condition affecting your red blood cells, such as anemia or another blood disorder, the HbA1C test may not accurately diagnose diabetes. Kidney and liver diseases can also affect HbA1C results.

In such cases, the doctor may recommend further tests to diagnose diabetes or prediabetes (such as another A1C test or a different type of diabetes test, usually a fasting blood sugar test or an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)). If diagnosed, you will need to follow the doctor’s treatment plan to keep your blood sugar levels stable.

3. How can I improve my HbA1c levels?

3. In addition to regularly monitoring your blood sugar and following prescribed treatments, you should adopt a suitable nutrition and exercise regimen, such as:

• Adjusting your diet to be healthier and more scientific: eat more fruits and vegetables, and foods rich in fiber and vitamins.
• Reducing sugar intake from various sources such as sweets, soft drinks, and milk tea.
• Including healthy fats in your diet: avocados, walnuts, and eliminating unhealthy fats and processed foods.
• Engaging in physical activities; however, avoid overly intense exercises. Aim for moderate activities, exercising regularly with options like yoga or swimming.

Making positive lifestyle changes combined with adhering to treatment will improve both your blood sugar levels and your HbA1c level.

From Ms. Quyên's sharing, it is evident that blood tests are an essential part of a comprehensive health check. Through such tests, doctors can assess current health issues and provide the best care recommendations for patients. This helps minimize health complications for patients.

Thank you for your question. If you have any further inquiries, please contact us directly for prompt assistance from the Dripcare team of doctors and specialists.