Tips for Lowering Your A1C as Quickly as Possible
The best method to lower your A1C uses a combination of medication, exercise, and good nutrition.
Take Your Medications as Prescribed
Your provider may prescribe oral medications like metformin (Glucophage XR, Glumetza, Fortamet), insulin injections, GLP-1 receptor agonists (Ozempic, Trulicity), or SGLT-2 inhibitors (Jardiance, Brenzavvy) to help you manage your blood sugar.
“The fastest way to lower A1C is with insulin,” says Goddard. “However, insulin has some drawbacks, including that it can cause low blood sugars and weight gain.”
The best approach combines medication with nutrition, physical activity, and consistent follow-up with your provider, says Hatipoglu.
Adjust Your Diet
The food you eat has a huge impact on your blood sugar levels.
Focus on eating a healthy diabetic diet that is rich in whole grains as well as fiber and protein, and avoid processed sugars that tend to raise blood sugar quickly, says Gottesman.
Your provider or dietitian may give you a few tools to help you balance your diet. These may include:
Carbohydrate counting: Carbs are broken down into sugar in your blood, so keeping detailed track of how many you eat and drink can help you limit yourself and give the right dose of insulin.
Plate method: Using a nine-inch-diameter plate, fill half with low-starch vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with healthy carbohydrates. Here are some examples of each:
