What does an A1c level of 7 mean? Are there any symptoms associated with this level?

An A1c level of 7 percent is considered high and means that 7% of the hemoglobin in your blood is saturated with sugar. A1c levels of 6.5 or greater are considered diabetes. 

If your A1c is high, a combination of diet and lifestyle changes and medications can help you lower your levels. The lower your A1c the lower your risk for developing some of the more serious complications of diabetes including cardiovascular disease, nerve and kidney damage, and vision loss.

An A1c of 7 may or may not have noticeable symptoms. Typical signs of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and/or blurred vision.

Factors that could contribute to an A1c level of 7: 

A variety of factors can lead to high A1c levels. Some of these include:  

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

• Overweight/ obesity

• Being physically inactive/ sedentary 

• Age (A1c tends to increase gradually as you get older)

• 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

• 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 additional testing.

What to do if your A1c level is 7?

If your A1c is high, a combination of diet and lifestyle changes, and medications can help you lower your levels. The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1c below 7%, but the lower the better.

Making changes to your diet and adopting healthier habits can help lower your levels. 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

• Follow your diabetes treatment plan if you have been diagnosed with diabetes

Medications used to improve A1c results

If diet and lifestyle modifications are not enough to manage elevated blood sugar, medications can helpl to lower elevated A1c levels into a safer range. If necessary, your doctor and/or dietitian will work with you to determine which ones are right for you. Some common diabetes medications include: 

• Insulin: Typically given by injection or through a pump to increase glucose (sugar) uptake by cells and thus decrease blood sugar

• Sulfonylureas: Increase insulin production by stimulating insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas

• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: Help your body break down starches and sugars found in food, lowering your blood sugar levels. 

• Biguanides: Reduce the amount of sugar your liver produces, as well as how much sugar your intestines absorb and makes your body more sensitive to insulin. The most common biguanide is metformin. 

• Dopamine agonist: These medications work by affecting the way the brain processes dopamine, an important neurotransmitter (chemical messenger). By increasing the activity of dopamine receptors, dopamine agonists increase insulin sensitivity, allowing cells to use blood glucose more effectively and lower blood sugar.

• DPP-4 inhibitors: Help the body continue to make insulin, which lowers blood sugar

• GLP-1 receptor agonists: Increase growth of insulin-producing beta-cells in the pancreas, slow stomach emptying, and decrease appetite and how much glucagon (which raises blood sugar) your body uses

• Meglitinides: Similar to sulfonylureas (but by a different mechanism) meglitinides stimulate the pancreas to release insulin in response to a meal. This increase in insulin production helps lower blood sugar.

• SGLT 2 inhibitors: Prevent the kidneys from holding on to glucose and increasing its excretion in urine

• Thiazolidinediones: Decrease glucose in your liver and also help your fat cells better utilize insulin