Special Patient Populations Practice Test

Keeping HbA1c under 7% usually requires a mix of lifestyle changes and medication. Diet influences how much glucose enters the bloodstream after meals and helps control overall daily glucose load—choosing balanced, high-fiber foods, moderating portion sizes, and timing meals can prevent big spikes. Exercise improves how the body uses insulin and helps glucose go where it’s needed, which lowers both fasting and post-meal glucose levels.

But in many people with diabetes, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough because the body may still have insufficient insulin action or production. Medications play a crucial role by reducing liver glucose output, enhancing insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin secretion, or slowing glucose absorption, depending on the drug. When combined, diet, exercise, and medications address the different facets of glucose control, making it the most effective approach for keeping HbA1c below 7% in many cases.