Weight gain and weight loss are common phenomena. Diabetes barely has anything to do with this. But what could be the reason that you lost weight but a1c went up?

Hemoglobinopathies and hypothyroidism are the main reasons for false results of a1c. Weight loss lowers the body’s insulin. The blood sugar levels more efficiently cause the A1c levels to fall over time. But if you’ve spleen disorder and low thyroid levels, you’ll often see elevated a1c levels. 

But is this all for a1c to go up? A proper diet during exercise could be another reason for this.

The reasons are mentioned here elaborately with valid facts. This’ll hopefully help you know the reason for a1c going up even if you lose weight.

So, let’s get started!

Is It Normal When You Lost Weight But A1c Went Up?

No, it is not normal to lose weight, but a1c going up. Because spleen disorders like sickle or asplenia can never be good for you.

Sickle cell disease or asplenia can impact your A1C results. This could be the case if your levels are suspicious and you have one of these disorders.

According to NIH, if a patient inherits a hemoglobin variant, such disorders make tests less accurate.

This group of inherited disorders that are passed down through generations is called hemoglobinopathies. 

As a result, patients might take the wrong steps according to the situation demands. The results don’t satisfy the person eventually.

Also, a low thyroid level is never good for the bloodstream. Thyroid hormones control the rate of your body’s calorie burns. 

Your A1C level is affected by the number of thyroid hormones present in your bloodstream. This may cause the reading to fluctuate. That is it may provide you with incorrect results.

The same situation as hemoglobinopathies is repeated with hypothyroidism. So, how can losing weight and yet a1c going up be normal? The answer is negative!

What Are The Reasons For A1C To Go Up?

There are eight common reasons for a1c to go up. Not necessarily the only eight, though. Doing excess exercise and not eating well may cause an a1c rise. Not enough sleep and proper medication are reasons too. 

Let’s have an elaborate discussion!

Diet

The significant factor in controlling sugar levels is diet. The improper diet causes a1c to rise high. For example, intake of excess carbs, highly processed foods, fried foods, and carbohydrates. Fruits like bananas are also high in sugar. Also, consuming caffeine might be worse and raise the risk.

Not Enough Sleep

Inadequate sleep makes you groggy. This affects your body’s control over blood sugar. Sleep deprivation, even for one night, makes the body use insulin inefficiently. This can cause your blood sugar to rise higher than it should.

Too Much Or Too Little Exercise

While exercising, the body pumps extra sugar into the muscles. Sugar levels raises due to strenuous activities too.

Stress

In order to respond to any threat, the body uses stored energy sources like glucose and fat. When you’re diabetic, insulin cannot enter the cells and break down the glucose. This causes your a1c levels to rise.

Medication

Taking medicines when you’re diabetic is normal. Some tend to take insulin too. Sometimes people accidentally miss out on a dose or take less or more doses than usual. This dangerously increases the sugar level. 

Missing Out On Brushing And Flossing

Diabetes patients are more likely to catch gum diseases. Not brushing and flossing well attracts infections. It becomes difficult to control blood sugar during severe gum disease. Eventually, a1c goes up more often.

Smoking

When you’re not diabetic, smoking rises that chance by raising your a1c level. And unfortunately, if you’re diabetic, finding the right insulin dose becomes difficult for you. It becomes tough to control sugar levels.

Dehydration

Lack of water causes dehydration. So, when you’re dehydrated, the glucose level increases. Making a1c level go high, too.

As I mentioned before, there’re two other important clinical reasons. Hemoglobinopathies and hypothyroidism. These need higher treatment for curing. Besides, kidney diseases or related disorders are a reason for a1c rising.

What Happens When A1C Is High?

Diabetic complications are noticed when a1c is high. Complications include blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. 

An A1C test quantifies the proportion of glucose in the blood. When it goes high, it means the person has diabetes. The higher the a1c goes, the greater the risk of complications.

The risk of heart disease and stroke increases if a1c rises. Blindness, nerve damage, kidney diseases, and gum diseases are on the list.

Heart Diseases And Stroke

Continuity of high blood sugar gradually harm the nerves and blood vessels that control the heart. Diabetic patients are vulnerable to developing heart disease at a younger age, more likely than non-diabetics.

You’re more likely to develop heart disease if you’ve diabetes for a longer period. Other heart risk factors are-

• high blood pressure, 
• high LDL cholesterol, and
• high triglycerides. 

Heart failure is the worst that can happen. If you want to maintain your blood sugar level, we have amazing products for you. 

To avoid these diseases, you can measure your sugar level by using either ReliOn Prime or Premier.

Blindness

A1C high means high blood sugar. It causes eye damage like blindness, poor vision, blooded tears, or increased high pressure in the eyes.

This can be prevented by managing sugar levels. Because over time, vessels will be damaged. New vessels won’t be more potent than the previous. 

Again, a rapid a1c drop is harmful too. Balancing the a1c level is significant.

Nerve Damage

When a1c is high, i.e., sugar level goes up, the nerves get destroyed. They stop sending pieces of information to other parts of the body.

The initial problem may be mild numbness but end up with severe pain. Some nerve damage symptoms are burning pain, muscle cramps, poor balance, and numbness. Urinary or bowel incontinence are symptoms too.

Kidney Disease

Blood vessels of the kidneys are also damaged, just like nerves, heart, and eyes. High blood sugar damages kidneys to the point that they fail to filter extra harmful fluids.

Treatment of kidney damage is costly. Kidney damage slowly attacks other organs when the urinary issue is a considerable factor. 

Gum diseases

Gingivitis, oral burning, periodontitis, oral yeast infection, and dry mouth are results of high a1c. This causes a fall of teeth and attracts conditions. 

What Measures Should Be Taken To Stop A1C From Rising?

Reciprocate everything that causes a1c to rise high.

Starting from the diet, be specific about eating if you want your blood sugar under control. Consuming foods that increase the sugar levels in moderate amounts is the best you do.

Drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Give up smoking and go to smoking zones to avoid a1c fluctuation.

Using mouth wash is imperative for diabetes patients. You never know from gum infection what it may turn out. A1C might drastically increase then. 

Yes, exercise increases your a1c level. But this doesn’t mean you’ll have to stop exercising. Just take the doctor’s advice for the proper dietary plan, so a1c does not rise.

Take your medications correctly and timely. Insulin is a sensitive thing. Take it in an accurate amount carefully.

What Measures To Be Taken To Balance Weight And A1C?

The predominant factor of a balanced sugar level is weight loss. Whatever the cause of your weight loss is, balancing weight and sugar levels is significant!

This will decrease the commonly asked question, what is a dangerous level of a1c? Well, 6.5 or above is the hazardous level of a1c. People start facing problems when a1c hits that level.

Therefore, it is pivotal maintaining the accurate level of insulin in your blood vessel. Some steps are maintaining the precautions that could help resist a1c from rising. Concurrently helps you lose weight.

1. Lose weight by following a proper diet. 
2. Exercise regularly with the doctor’s conscience and eat before sugar level drops.
3. Count carbohydrates but minimum in range.
4. Take oral diabetes medication but regularly on time.
5. Use the right amount of insulin. Not more, not less.

Hopefully, this will resist a1c from going up while you lose weight.

FAQs

What Is A Average A1C Level?

An average A1C level is less than 5.7%. And 5.7 to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes. Type 2 diabetes increases when your a1c level hits the 5.7% to 6.4% prediabetes range.

Can Losing 10 lbs Lower A1C?

Yes, losing 10Ibs can lower A1C. Losing 10% of weight just after six months of diagnosis lowers the risk of type2 diabetes. If you succeed in losing weight, keep maintaining a low-calorie diet for six months. This helps to send diabetes into remission.

What Is The Fastest Way To Drop Your A1C?

Diet and exercise can consistently lower your A1c. These help the muscles absorb sugar from the bloodstream. It further lowers your blood sugar levels more quickly after a meal. You might notice some decrease in A1c numbers as you exercise regularly. Also, intake your medications. 

Conclusion

Here I wrap up my discussion on why you lost weight but a1c went up. Now you know the reasons are many. But diet and exercise, hemoglobinopathies, and hypothyroidism are the dominants.

Severe issues are related to a1c going high and weight loss. Balancing these both and taking precautions to avoid severe health damage is mandatory now.

Anyways, hope the discussion was insightful. Do let me know by leaving a comment here. Enjoy!