No one on earth gets more advice… much of it bad… than folks with diabetes.
Friends, family, magazine articles, TV talking heads, and even your own doctor can fill your brain with so much noise it’s hard to know what to believe.
Their diabetes advice is sometimes misleading. It’s typically confusing. Half the time, it’s conflicting. And, let’s face it, it’s often just plain wrong.
It’s really no wonder this often reversible—and nearly always manageable—disease usually gets worse instead of better.
But today, I’ve got a way to cut through the noise so you can keep your eyes on the prize. Because new research reveals the single factor that matters most.
In other words, it simplifies everything by confirming the ONE NUMBER you need to actually focus on to conquer your diabetes.
Plus, I’ll share the key to keeping this number right where it needs to be. So you’ll have the tools you need to help stop YOUR case from getting worse.
Decoding A1C to master diabetes
As a diabetic, you, of course, already know how crucial blood sugar control is. But beyond that, it seems everyone has a different opinion on what’s important.
Some experts want you to focus on premeal numbers only. Others say post-meal is more critical. You might have been told to check your numbers three times a day, every day, or just once every few days.
And it seems like everyone and their brother has a different opinion on what blood sugar range you should be shooting for.
But the new study finds you can stop stressing over all of those distractions. Instead, the researchers say, you can zero in on a single number for the best control and the lowest possible risk of heart problems and other diabetes-linked complications.
It’s a figure you’re likely already familiar with. Your doctor has probably mentioned it when you get bloodwork done. And that’s your hemoglobin A1C level (A1C).
When you don’t have diabetes, you want your A1C to be below 5.7 percent. The higher it gets above that, the more likely it is you’ll develop the disease. But if it’s above 6.5 percent on two different tests, you’re officially a member of the diabetes club.
And that’s where it gets tricky. Because once you HAVE diabetes, the targets are all over the place. The American Diabetes Association, for example, says you should keep it below 7 percent… but offers little beyond that.
However, a report from Harvard not too long ago says anywhere in the 7-8 percent range is fine in most cases. And from the folks I‘ve talked to, it seems different doctors have their own range of what they’ll accept for their patients.
Focus on THIS figure to eliminate guesswork
But let’s step back to get a little perspective. When you have diabetes, the goal isn’t to simply hit a number, of course. It’s to stay alive and healthy.
That’s where the new study shines. Because it identifies the specific A1C threshold that can send your chances of surviving and thriving, despite your diabetes, soaring.
The goal is 6.8 percent. If you fall below that when you have your A1C checked, you’re doing great. Above that, the risks start to climb. And when you hit 7 percent, your odds of a heart attack jump by 27 percent and stroke by 28 percent.
Of course, most people with diabetes rely on meds to hit their targets, no matter what range they’re shooting for. And most fall short anyway, leading to even more drugs and a higher chance of side effects.
3 steps to diabetes remission
If you haven’t yet tried to reverse your own diabetes, it’s worth a try. I personally know people who have been officially declared “in remission” from the disease. Which means they no longer need to take meds.
How did they do it? First, they focused on slashing their carbohydrates and eliminating ultra-processed foods from their menus. A keto-style diet is great for this because it allows you to eat many of the delicious foods you crave, and you never feel hungry.
Next, they slipped in some sort of exercise most days of the week. Now keep in mind that doesn’t mean you always need to do a heavy workout. A brisk walk or a guided yoga or stretching routine you find on YouTube count too.
And finally, they added in some natural blood-sugar support such as berberine, chromium, hesperidin, and cinnamon extract.
This same approach can dramatically reduce your own glucose, pushing your A1C into that golden zone of 6.8 percent or less. And instead of needing more meds, you might even be able to reduce or eliminate the ones you’re taking.
But don’t do this alone. Keep your doc in the loop. He can monitor your progress and help you adjust your meds along the way as needed.
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