PART 3 OF 8 — THE BLOOD SUGAR & CGM SERIES. You can listen in any order, though they do build. Find the full series here.Three years ago Diane's A1c was 5.4. Then 5.5. Then 5.6. Every year she was told it was normal.This year she got a phone call, the word prediabetic, and some advice about losing weight. And she was stunned — because from where she was sitting, nothing had happened.Nothing had. It was just the year she crossed a line somebody drew.Here's what almost nobody tells you: for women sitting exactly where Diane was, somewhere between 1 in 20 and 1 in 4 went on to develop diabetes within five years — starting from a result they were told was normal.Read the full blog post and complete show notes — every study linked in one place.In this episode:What an A1c actually measures, and why it's an average rather than a snapshotWhat the research says about a "normal" A1c of 5.6Why there's no cliff at 5.7, and how that line was arrived atWhy the system detects thresholds but not trajectories — and why the warning arrives when it's worth the leastWhat's actually happening underneath a rising A1cWhy two women with the identical A1c can be in completely different situationsInsulin is a hormone, and it's missing from the midlife hormone conversationTwo things that can make your A1c read falsely high, both relevant in perimenopauseThe ten-minute exercise that does what the system cannotChapters:00:00 Diane's lab results, three years running02:26 What your A1c actually measures04:41 What the research says about a “normal” 5.606:18 Why there is no cliff at 5.709:11 The system detects thresholds, not trajectories13:52 What was actually happening underneath17:11 Insulin is a hormone. Nobody is discussing it.19:07 What can make your A1c read falsely high21:24 What to do this week23:28 What you still cannot seeResources:The Metabolic Five — my free guide to the tests worth asking for, including the fasting insulin nobody offers you.Clarity — my program for reading your own real-time glucose data.The Inner Circle — my monthly membership.Free Community — come and join us, no cost.Fullscript — my practitioner dispensary, 15% discount.AG1 — the greens powder I use daily.AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely use and trust.Sources: every study is linked in full on the blog post. Key papers include Zhang et al. in Diabetes Care, DeFronzo 2009, De Paoli 2021, and the ADA Standards of Care.I'm a certified nutritionist and menopause specialist, but I'm not your doctor — this podcast isn't a substitute for personalized medical care. Always check in with your team before making changes to your diet, supplements, or lifestyle. Take what serves you, leave what doesn't, and trust yourself.

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