Have you been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes? Once you receive a diagnosis, it can feel overwhelming to try to process all the information involved and the lifestyle changes that are needed. That’s why we’ve put together several posts on diabetes. But more importantly, our knowledgeable team of scientists have worked diligently to create a supplement that helps keep your body healthy and lowers health risks associated with diabetes. One way that our supplement, Brilliant Level, does that is by lowering your HbA1c (also referred to as A1c) levels. 

What Are HbA1c Levels?

Let’s break this down. HbA1c levels show the amount of blood sugar (glucose) that is attached to the hemoglobin in your blood. In addition to giving your blood that bright red color, hemoglobin also carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. When the amount of blood sugar (glucose) attached to your hemoglobin is too high, it can cause a variety of health concerns. 

What Is a Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test?

An HbA1c test shows what the average amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin has been over the past three months. The reason the test has a three-month average is because that's typically how long a red blood cell lives.

What Is It Used For?

The results of an A1C test can help your doctor: 

1. Diagnose pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes puts you at higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
2. Diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. To confirm a diabetes diagnosis, your doctor will likely look at the results of two blood tests given on different days — either two A1C tests or the A1C test plus another test, such as a fasting or a random blood sugar test.
3. Monitor your diabetes treatment plan. The result will establish your baseline A1C level. The test is then repeated regularly to manage your diabetes.

Why Do I Need an HbA1c Test?

An HbA1c test is an important step in monitoring your glucose levels so you don’t suffer serious health problems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that adults over the age of 45 get tested to screen for diabetes and prediabetes. This way you can catch diabetes in its early stages or have peace of mind that you’re in a healthy range. Depending on your results, here’s how often you should receive the test. 

• On your initial test, if your results are normal, you should repeat the test every 3 years.
• If your results show you have prediabetes, you should get tested every 1-2 years. You should also talk to your health care provider about taking steps to reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

If you are under 45, you may need this test if you have certain risk factors. These include: 

• Being overweight or obese
• High blood pressure
• History of heart disease
• Physical inactivity

You may also need an HbA1c test if you have symptoms of diabetes. These include:

• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue

What Do the Results Mean?

If you’ve gotten a test back, you’ll notice that HbA1c results are given in percentages. Here are some typical results. 

• Normal: Below 5.7%
• Prediabetes: Between 5.7% and 6.4%
• Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends keeping your HbA1c levels below 7%. 

Why Do I Need to Keep My HbA1c Level Down?

• Vision loss
• Kidney failure
• Amputation of legs

If your A1C level is above your target, you should work on bringing down your blood glucose level with diet, exercise, and supplementation with Brilliant Level.

What Is the Relationship Between HbA1c and My Daily Blood Sugar Levels?

A1C test results generally correspond with the following results of your average daily blood sugar levels:

A1C level: Estimated average blood sugar (glucose) level 

• 6%: 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L)
• 7%: 154 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L)
• 8%: 183 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L)
• 9%: 212 mg/dL (11.8 mmol/L)
• 10%: 240 mg/dL (13.4 mmol/L)
• 11%: 269 mg/dL (14.9 mmol/L)
• 12%: 298 mg/dL (16.5 mmol/L)

What Is Brilliant Level? 

Level is an all-natural, plant-based supplement that our team of Brilliant scientists formulated specifically for individuals with high glucose levels. Level uses natural ingredients to help lower blood glucose levels—assisting with the prevention and management of prediabetes and diabetes. 

How Does Level Help Bring Down Your HbA1c Levels?

Brilliant Level works in 2 ways.

1. It interrupts the glycation process of sugar (glucose) molecules attaching to the Hemoglobin protein in the blood, reducing the sugar load in your blood.
2. It increases the sensitivity of your body cells to insulin, increasing the sugar uptake from your blood.

As a result, glucose will be converted to energy molecules inside your body cells, leaving you energetic. This process reduces the amount of sugar (glucose) retained in your blood.

What Is Level Made With? 

Because Brilliant is dedicated to providing supplements that naturally help your body, it is made with ingredients that are both natural and beneficial for those with high HbA1c levels. These ingredients include:

Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Extract 

This fine powder is widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia. It is used as an herbal tea for cardiovascular health and blood glucose control. Our Level supplement contains this bioactive compound that increases the rate at which sugar in your body is converted into energy, helping stabilize your blood sugar levels. 

Mango Leaf Extract

Mango is called the “King of Fruits” because of its popularity throughout tropical regions and its incredible health benefits. Every part of the mango can be used for its health benefits. The leaves can be brewed in tea for its antibiotic and liver health properties. It is also used to help those with diabetes and stomach ulcers. 

Our bioactive compound from mango, mangiferin, reduces the blood sugar levels by the speed at which blood sugar is shuttled from the bloodstream to the cells. This means it can significantly reduce HbA1c and fasting blood sugar levels. 

Quercetin Dihydrate 

Quercetin is one of the major bioactive compounds in plants and is found in trace amounts in basically all fruits and vegetables. The foods that contain the largest amount of quercetin are onions, apples, chestnuts, and raspberries. Quercetin can prevent the formation of proinflammatory molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that form when we eat a diet rich in sugar. Quercetin also helps to make sure the mitochondria, or power plants of the cells, are using sugar properly. 

Pomegranate Extract Powder

Pomegranate has been a staple in Iranian folk medicine for centuries. It was used as a diuretic and as a support to the liver. Bioactive compounds in pomegranate called punicalagins improve the sensitivity of the body to insulin — the master hormone and regulator responsible for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels throughout the body. When your body is functioning properly, it can detect slight changes in insulin levels and react immediately to level out blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels no longer respond to changes in insulin, it’s called insulin resistance. This resistance is one of the major hallmarks of type 2 diabetes.

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