Hemoglobin A1c, or glycolated hemoglobin, is a substance in red blood cells that carries the oxygen through your blood and into the cells. When diabetes is uncontrolled and blood glucose is commonly high, glucose combines with the hemoglobin, making it glycated. Because the life cycle of hemoglobin A1c is 2 to 3 months, doctors can measure it to determine how high blood glucose levels have been lately. The higher your blood glucose has been over the past weeks, the higher your hemoglobin A1c level will be. There are certain diets that help maintain blood glucose labels in their normal range and thus lower A1c levels.
Carbohydrate-Counting Diet
This diet is usually prescribed to people suffering with diabetes by their registered dietitian so that they can control their blood glucose levels. All carbohydrates bread down into glucose in the blood, so it is important to know about carbohydrate portions and timing in order to maintain your blood glucose level steady. Usually, the RD will teach you how to measure carbohydrate portions and how to read the nurition facts labels so that you can monitor your carbohydrate intake. If you take insulin, he will tell you how to count the amount of carbohydrates in each meal so that you know what dose of insulin to take.
Carbohydrate Exchage Diet
This diet is also recommended by many dietitians for diabetics in order to keep blood glucose levels under control. It separates foods into separate categories such as carbohydrates, meats and fats. Each serving is called an exchange, and every exchange has about the same amount of carbohydrates, protein, fat and calories and the same effect on your blood glucose as an exchange of every other food in that same group. They are called exchanges because you can exchange or trade one serving of fruits for a serving of pasta if you choose to.
Glycemic Index Diet
This diet relies on you to only eat foods with moderate or low glycemic indexes. The glycemic index is a measurement of how much each particular foods will cause your blood glucose to rise. Thus, with this diet you will have to choose carbohydrates that have a low glycemic index in order to keep your blood glucose under control and thus lower your A1c. A problem with this diet, however, is that low-index foods aren't necessarily the healthiest option. Some high-fat foods tend to have a lower GI than other healthier options.
References
- Krause' Medical Nutrition Therapy. Kathleen Mahan and Sylvia Escott-Stump . 2007
- Nutrition Therapy and Pathophysiology. Nelms, Sucher, Long. 2007
