In this article:
- What is HbA1c?
- What should my HbA1c levels be?
- Implications of high HbA1c levels on energy
- Implications of low HbA1c levels on energy
- How is HbA1c tested?
- Understanding the cause of your energy problems
It takes more than just eating and sleeping enough to maintain consistent energy levels. If you suspect a possible blood sugar imbalance that’s messing with your ability to function, getting your HbA1c levels tested could shed a lot of light on the issue.
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Takeaways:
- HbA1c is a biomarker that measures average blood glucose levels over time; this means it can provide more information than a simple fasting glucose test.
- Understanding HbA1c is important even if you don’t suffer from diabetes, as even small deviations from the optimum level can affect energy.
- Diet plays a huge role in both disrupting and regulating HbA1c, so if you’re trying to get your levels back to normal, that’s a good place to start.
What is HbA1c?
Contrary to what you might think, this isn’t the name that Elon Musk plans to use if he has another child; it’s actually short for Hemoglobin A1c, and in order to understand what it means, you’ll need a little background info. You’re probably already vaguely aware of what hemoglobin is - it’s a part of your red blood cells. When sugar enters your bloodstream, hemoglobin picks up some of it, which is a process known as “glycation”. The process of glycation takes a while, though, so while going to town on a pancake platter will raise your blood glucose levels considerably, that one instance of higher sugar intake won’t affect your HbA1c all that much.
In other words, rather than being an actual substance, HbA1c represents how much of your hemoglobin has been glycated. Instead of the “snapshot” view that a glucose blood test will give you, HbA1c levels let you see what’s been going on with your blood sugar levels in the last few weeks or months.
What should my HbA1c levels be?r
Here’s how the American Diabetes Association lays it out:
- A normal HbA1c level is under 5.7%
- The HbA1c level in someone who’s prediabetic is 5.7% to 6.4%
- The HbA1c level in someone who has diabetes is 6.5% or more
You’d think that you’d be able to tell if your body was on the road to diabetes, but that isn’t always the case. In fact, most people with prediabetes are actually asymptomatic. If you start experiencing things like extreme hunger and thirst, fatigue, excessive urination, and blurry vision, those are big red flags - you’re getting into diabetes territory.
Implications of high HbA1c levels on energy
When you think about the link between blood sugar levels and energy, don’t picture your neighbor’s kids who went nuts after eating too much birthday cake; picture the way you crash after eating a carb-heavy meal. Now imagine that your body is doing that every single time you eat, and that’s what happens with high HbA1c.
Fatigue is such a common symptom for those with diabetes, it’s actually called “diabetic fatigue” - go figure. If that doesn’t tell you how high HbA1c affects energy levels, it’s hard to say what will!
Implications of low HbA1c levels on energy
Having low HbA1c is much less common than the opposite, but it can cause similar problems with energy, even to the point of fainting in some instances. There was one case of a man suffering from diabetes who accidentally went from high to low HbA1c levels through a combination of medication and an extremely strict sugar-free diet - his HbA1c was measured to be 3.2% at one point! He was regularly experiencing fainting spells between meals, but after adjusting the dosage of his anti-diabetic medication and altering his diet, his HbA1c was returned to a normal level.
How is HbA1c tested?
Just like with other blood glucose tests, HbA1c is tested using blood samples. A lab determines how much of the hemoglobin has been glycated, and that gives you your HbA1c level. Pretty simple, right? Yes, but in the case of this particular blood test, it isn’t always a one-time deal.
Since HbA1c levels indicate your body’s average blood glucose levels over a span of time, you’ll get a much clearer picture if you test them regularly. This particular test is recommended for people with diabetes to take every three months; it certainly isn’t necessary if your initial test comes back showing optimal levels, but if you’re prediabetic, it can be a crucial tool in preventing the condition from progressing.
If you want to take matters into your own hands without trying to persuade a doctor to order an HbA1c test, opting for Base’s at-home HbA1c lab test could be a better fit. Not only would you be able to make things happen on a schedule that works for you, but you’d still be getting expert advice on how to interpret - and act on - your test results.
Understanding the cause of your energy problems
If your HbA1c levels are out of whack, it’s pretty obvious that your body is having a hard time regulating blood sugar levels - so what’s causing those imbalances? For most people, diet is the main culprit. There are all kinds of gimmicky hacks suggested to people who want to manage their energy levels: avoid snacks religiously, or don’t eat past 6 p.m., for example. However, they can only do so much good if you’re putting your blood sugar levels into a tailspin with every meal.
Time for a little tough love: you’ll probably have to change the way you incorporate carbohydrates into your diet if you’re going to effectively improve your HbA1c levels. Does this mean you’ll have to go keto and take a solemn vow to never consume fast food again? Absolutely not! It just means that you’ll have to learn more about what your body needs in order to maintain balance - and that’ll probably mean less sugar and fewer carbohydrates. Once you’ve established a healthy give-and-take between your diet and your blood sugar levels, you’ll be back on the road to optimized HbA1c levels - and better energy!
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Energy levels have you feeling down?
Take our quiz to build a bespoke testing plan that will help you boost your energy and beat fatigue.
