50+ Lifestyles

Have You Heard the Word on your A1C?

By Nina Struss RDN, LDN
Hy-Vee Registered Dietician
(515) 695-3779 NStruss@hy-vee.com

Hemoglobin A1C is a simple blood test that tells your average blood sugar level over the last 2-3 months. All adults should consider having their hemoglobin A1C tested periodically as recommended by their physician. An A1C screening can also identify prediabetes while being used as a tool by physicians to diagnose diabetes and monitor the effectiveness of your diabetes treatment over time. Prediabetes is very common, often unknown, and is a critical time to take action with lifestyle changes to prevent or delay diabetes. For someone who is at low risk of developing diabetes, their doctor may recommend an annual A1C test or even testing every few years. For someone with diabetes, they are often encouraged to get an A1C test every 6 months if their diabetes treatment is working well and every 3 months if they are working on adjusting their treatment.

Knowledge is power when it comes to your health. Yet it is common to avoid preventative screenings out of fear. Instead, try thinking of a screening as one point in time of your very own research study. By finding out where your average blood sugar is now, you can assess the factors influencing your numbers and make a plan for what steps you can take to maintain or improve upon your results.

If you’re not sure where to start, your Hy-Vee dietitian is here to help. Visit https://www.hy-vee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians to learn more and register for upcoming diabetes-friendly services including our Diabetes Nutrition Store Tours that are available on-demand or as part of a live virtual group store tour. These tours are offered in both English and Spanish, and over the course of 45 minutes a Hy-Vee dietitian will walk you through what to add to your cart to help you manage your diabetes or help you care for someone living with diabetes.

Throughout the month of April a Hy-Vee near you is offering complimentary hemoglobin A1C screenings, thanks to our generous sponsors: Birds Eye frozen vegetables, California avocados, Catalina Crunch, Sugarbreak and BD Medical. Limited screening spots are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Request your free screening today at https://www.hy-vee.com/health/hy-vee-dietitians.

The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

Nina Struss represents Hy-Vee as a nutrition expert promoting healthy eating throughout the community. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly known as the American Dietetic Association). She can be reached at (515) 695-3779 or at nstruss@hy-vee.com.