My last A1c was 7.1%, and my random blood sugars are 150-180 mg/dl [8.3-10 mmol/L] with morning readings still around 170 mg/dl [9.4 mmol/L]. My doctor suggests that I take medication, but I am having a hard time with this and don’t know if I should get a second opinion. Do I have a problem?

A hemoglobin A1c of 7.1% typically reflects an average blood sugar of 150 mg/dl [8.3 mmol/L] over the past three months. How you handle this result — that is, whether you choose to alter your insulin dosing or add a medication typically depends on many factors including: whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your age, your goal range for blood sugars, your choice to “intensively” manage your diabetes as well as how you are managing many modifiable factors in your life that influence your diabetes.

The decision as to what may be next for you in managing this hemoglobin A1c is a choice best made after considering all of those factors, and is likely best made after visiting with your physician and/or a diabetes educator.

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