A1C DIABETES LAB TESTS ARE STUPID
Most doctors don't know what an A1C test really means. They think a high reading means you have high blood glucose. Wrong. It means you have a higher percentage of red blood cells (RBC's) that are glycated (which means that a glucose molecule has stuck onto a RBC).
The test wrongly assumes that RBC's live for 100 days, then die. But if you have healthier RBC's then they will live much longer than 100 days, and if they live longer your A1C will obviously be a higher number because a higher percentage of RBC's will have time to become glycated before they die. It doesn't necessarily mean you have higher blood glucose. It means your RBC's are living longer.
If you have unhealthy RBC's then they will live a much shorter life in which case your A1C number will appear much lower because a lower percentage of your RBC's are glycated because they died before they could get glycated.
Who has healthy RBC's that live longer? People who eat lots of meat and fat, get a lot of sunlight on the skin, and get minimal artificial light exposure. Who has unhealthy RBC's that die sooner? People who are vegetarians, get little sunlight, and get lots of artificial light exposure.
So don't assume your A1C is a good indicator of blood glucose levels. Measure your blood glucose level directly with a continuous glucose monitor or a simple finger prick a few times per day.
Like I said, it's stupid.
(This is NOT medical advice. Consult a physician for medical advice.)
Most doctors don't know what an A1C test really means. They think a high reading means you have high blood glucose. Wrong. It means you have a higher percentage of red blood cells (RBC's) that are glycated (which means that a glucose molecule has stuck onto a RBC).
The test wrongly assumes that RBC's live for 100 days, then die. But if you have healthier RBC's then they will live much longer than 100 days, and if they live longer your A1C will obviously be a higher number because a higher percentage of RBC's will have time to become glycated before they die. It doesn't necessarily mean you have higher blood glucose. It means your RBC's are living longer.
If you have unhealthy RBC's then they will live a much shorter life in which case your A1C number will appear much lower because a lower percentage of your RBC's are glycated because they died before they could get glycated.
Who has healthy RBC's that live longer? People who eat lots of meat and fat, get a lot of sunlight on the skin, and get minimal artificial light exposure. Who has unhealthy RBC's that die sooner? People who are vegetarians, get little sunlight, and get lots of artificial light exposure.
So don't assume your A1C is a good indicator of blood glucose levels. Measure your blood glucose level directly with a continuous glucose monitor or a simple finger prick a few times per day.
Like I said, it's stupid.
(This is NOT medical advice. Consult a physician for medical advice.)
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