What does an A1c level of 5.7 mean? Are there any symptoms associated with this level?

An A1c level of 5.7 means that 5.7% of the hemoglobin in your blood is saturated with sugar. 

An A1c of 5.7 is considered elevated and means your blood sugar levels have been raised over the last few months. 

Elevated A1c levels of 5.7-6.4 percent are considered prediabetes. The higher your A1c, the greater your risk for developing diabetes. 

If your A1c is elevated, diet and lifestyle changes may be effective for getting your levels back into the optimal range without the need for medications. Lowering your A1c back into the optimal range (4-5.6%) can prevent or delay diabetes down the road.

An A1c of 5.7 doesn't usually have any symptoms. One possible sign of prediabetes is a darkening of the skin and sometimes skin tags on certain parts of the body including the neck, armpits, elbows, knuckles, and knees.

Common symptoms of diabetes that are important to be aware of include increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and/or blurred vision.

Factors that could contribute to an A1c level of 5.7: 

 A variety of factors can affect A1c levels. Some of these include:  

• Diet, particularly those high in refined carbohydrates and added sugars, and low in fiber

• Overweight/ obesity

• Sedentary lifestyle 

• Age

• Race (people of Black, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian, Asian American, or Pacific Islander descent are at greater risk for prediabetes/ diabetes.)

• Stress

• Use of certain medications, including glucocorticoids

• Genetics (family history of pre-diabetes or diabetes)

• Adherence to your prediabetes/ diabetes management plan

• Pregnancy

• Chronic disease/ inflammation 

Several things can also falsely increase or decrease your A1c result. Some of these include: 

• Kidney failure, liver disease, or severe anemia

• Certain medicines, including opioids and some HIV medications

• Blood loss or blood transfusions

• Early or late pregnancy

• A less common type of hemoglobin found in people of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent, as well as people with blood disorders like sickle cell anemia or thalassemia

Let your doctor know if any of these apply to you to determine if you need follow-up testing.

What to do if your A1c level is 5.7?

Making changes to your diet and adopting healthier habits can help lower your A1c levels back into the optimal range (4-5.6 percent), and potentially prevent or delay diabetes. To lower your A1c:

• Be active every day: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week (about 30 minutes 5 days per week). 

• Fill half of your plate with non-starchy veggies at every meal, and incorporate a source of lean protein and plant-based fat to assist with blood sugar control. 

• Limit refined carbohydrates and added sugar, and choose whole-grain carbohydrates such as whole wheat bread/ pasta, quinoa, farro, and steel-cut oats, instead. 

• Lose excess weight if you are overweight or obese

• Manage stress and get adequate sleep to help balance hormone levels that can impact blood sugar

Medications used to improve A1c results

Although the American Diabetes Association and the Endocrine Society recommend a medication called metformin for the treatment of prediabetes, medications are typically not prescribed for an A1c level of 5.7. 

This is likely because individuals with prediabetes are not at risk for developing the more serious microvascular complications of diabetes. Also, roughly two-thirds of people with prediabetes do not develop diabetes, even after many years, and one-third of people with prediabetes are able to lower their A1c back into the optimal range without medication [5].

For this reason, diet and lifestyle changes are typically recommended in lieu of medications for the management of prediabetes.