HBA1C 10.3% - What it means, average sugar level, diet and exercise

An Hba1c value of 10.3% probably means that you are diabetic. Additional testing is usually required before a confirmatory diagnosis can be made. This article tells you what your average sugar value is, and how to incorporate diet and exercise in your lifestyle to improve your sugar control.

Does an HBA1C level of 10.3 confirm diabetes?

A diagnosis of diabetes can only be done if two seperate values of HBA1C are above 6.4%. A combination of a glucose tolerance test and an hba1c are usually done to confirm diabetes. Read the section on diagnosis of diabetes at the bottom of this page for more information.. With your hba1c level of 10.3, you should consult a diabetologist immediately as your HBA1C is already high, and you may suffer from complications of diabetes. An hba1c of 10.3 % is almost certainly confirmatory of diabetes. Talk to your lab about factors leading to false elevations of HBA1C, and consult your doctor before taking further action.

What is my average sugar value with an HBA1C of 10.3% ?

Based on the formula used to convert HBA1C to 3 month average glucose levels, your estimated average glucose is 248.9 mg/dl. Please note that this is an approximate value.

What are the symptoms of an HBA1C of 10.3% ?

Diabetes is associated with a wide variety of sympotms. With an HBA1C value of 10.3 %, you may find some of these symptoms : Unconscious,Profound weakness,Sweet, fruity breath,Confusion,Stomach cramps

Can exercise help lower an HBA1C value of 10.3% ?

HBA1C levels can be improved to a great extent by following a regular and consistent exercise plan. Exercise helps in various ways, by reducing insulin resistance, improving uptake of glucose by muscles and also helps loose weight. The following are some types of exercise that you can do on a weekly basis. Remember that the American Diabetes association recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of exercise a week for diabetics.

Aerobic Exercise Plan for HBA1C 10.3%

Monday	Interval training (moderate intensity) - 40 minutes
Tuesday	Rest day
Wednesday	Swimming (vigorous intensity) - 40 minutes
Thursday	Dancing (moderate intensity) - 45 minutes
Friday	Rest day
Saturday	Rowing (vigorous intensity) - 30 minutes
Sunday	Jogging (moderate intensity) - 30 minutes

Resistance Exercise Plan for HBA1C 10.3%

Monday	Squats,Chest press,Lat pulldown,Shoulder press,Tricep dips
Tuesday	Rest day
Wednesday	Lunges,Bicep curls,Seated row,Leg press,Plank
Thursday	Rest day
Friday	Deadlifts,Push-ups,Pull-ups,Overhead press,Tricep pushdowns
Saturday	Rest day
Sunday	Rest day

Balance Exercise Plan for HBA1C 10.3%

Monday	Yoga
Tuesday	Tai chi
Wednesday	Rest
Thursday	Balance exercises
Friday	Rest
Saturday	Lower body resistance exercises
Sunday	Core resistance exercises

Stretching Exercise Plan for HBA1C 10.3%

Monday	Balance exercises
Tuesday	Yoga
Wednesday	Tai chi
Thursday	Static stretching
Friday	Dynamic stretching
Saturday	PNF stretching
Sunday	Rest

What kind of meal plans or foods can I eat with an HBA1C of 10.3%?

Low glycemic index foods, combined with a good exercise regimen can help control your sugar. Here we have suggested some meal plans, one each for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They include foods recommeded in diabetes.

Breakfast meal plan for HBA1C 10.3 %

breakfast

Steel-cut oatmeal topped with ground flax seeds, chopped walnuts, and fresh berries. Serve with a side of scrambled egg whites.

Lunch meal plan for HBA1C 10.3 %

lunch

Veggie burger on a whole wheat bun with lettuce, tomato, and avocado slices. Pair it with a side of sweet potato fries or a side salad.

Dinner meal plan for HBA1C 10.3 %

dinner

Baked chicken breast with a side of roasted Brussels sprouts and quinoa. Serve with a side salad topped with sliced almonds and a light vinaigrette dressing.

What medications should I take for an HBA1C of 10.3%?

Medication should only be started after consulting a registered medical practioner and diabetlogist. Medications to be given vary with the level of HBA1C. For your HBA1C of 10.3%, the following strategy is to be considered: Combination oral hypoglycemic medication like Biguaides + DPP4 inhibitors or Sulfonylureas or Glinides. This is usually combined with insulin. Both basal and prandial insulin may need to be used.

What complications can arise with a HBA1C value of 10.3%?

Diabetes is associated with many complications, especially on other organs of the body. Here are a few complications that may arise with long standing diabetes : Heart diseases , kidney diseases, injuries to feet and toes, eye diseases of the retina, urinary tract infections etc.
You are also risk of a complication of diabetes called diabetic ketoacidosis. In this condition, the body is unable to metabolize sugar and begins to breakdown its own proteins to use in place of sugar. This leads to elevated levels of ketones in the blood and urine. This is a medical emergency and you should consult a doctor immediately.

Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes

There are 3 tests that are used for the diagnosis of diabetes. These include Fasting Blood Glucose, Glucose Tolerance Test and the HBA1C test. Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association recommend that a patient should be tested on two seperate days. If possible 2 different tests should be carried, instead of repeating the same test.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

In this test you need to be fasting for a period of at least 8 hours. A single blood sample is drawn. After this, you are given 75gm of glucose solution to drink. 2 hours later another sample is taken. The following table lists out the diagnostic criteria based on the results. Given your HBA1C value of 10.3 %, and an estimated estimated_average_glucose of 248.9 mg/dl, you should probably have a value above 200 on this test.

2 hour Glucose Value	Diagnosis
Less than 140	Normal
140 to 200	Prediabetes
More than 200	Diabetes

Fasting Blood Glucose

The value of your sugar after an overnight fast of 8 hours is called fasting blood glucose. A value above 126 mg/dl is indicative of diabetes.

HBA1C test

A value above 6.4% is indicative of diabetes.

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