How to treat HbA1c 7.1? Is it diabetes?

Patient's question:

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Treatment history and effectiveness:
Is my HbA1c of 7.1 considered diabetes? How is it treated? Thank you

Doctor's answer:

Diabetes can be managed as long as medication is kept within the normal range. However, it is crucial to pay attention to a regular lifestyle and diet.
Recommendations: Strict dietary control is a prerequisite and the most important aspect of treating diabetes. In clinical practice, doctors have found that patients often fail to achieve the desired therapeutic effects of medication due to poor dietary control. The principles of dietary control are as follows:
1. Break the misconception that "taking more diabetes medication allows for more food consumption."
2. Eat small, frequent meals. This ensures both calorie and nutrient supply while avoiding post-meal blood sugar spikes.
3. Carbohydrate-rich foods should be consumed in moderation, neither too little nor too much, and evenly throughout the day (carbohydrates refer to the sugar content in grains, vegetables, dairy, fruits, soy products, and nuts).
4. There is no difference between sweet and savory pastries; both can raise blood sugar.
5. The amount of "diabetic foods" should be equal to that of regular foods. "Diabetic foods" refer to grains high in dietary fiber, such as buckwheat and oats. Although these foods digest more slowly, they ultimately convert into glucose.
6. "Sugar-free foods" are essentially foods without added sucrose. Some are sweetened with sugar substitutes and should still be consumed cautiously.
7. Vegetables high in starch should be counted as part of the main meal portion. These include potatoes, sweet potatoes, lotus root, yam, water chestnuts, taro, lily bulbs, and water chestnuts.
8. Except for soybeans, other legumes like red beans, green beans, fava beans, kidney beans, and peas are also high in starch and should be counted as part of the main meal portion.
9. Side dishes should be consumed in moderation.
10. Do not use nuts like peanuts, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, or pine nuts to satisfy hunger.
11. Eat more foods high in dietary fiber.
12. Consume less salt.
13. Consume fewer foods high in cholesterol.
14. Regarding fruit consumption. Patients with better blood sugar control can eat low-sugar fruits like apples, pears, oranges, oranges, and strawberries, but in moderation. Fruit should be eaten between meals when blood sugar is low. Eating fruit after meals is equivalent to an extra snack, which can quickly raise blood sugar. Additionally, watermelon causes sugar to be absorbed rapidly, so it should be avoided as much as possible. Bananas are high in starch and should be counted as part of the main meal portion.
15. Sweeteners do not convert into glucose and do not affect blood sugar levels, so they cannot be used as emergency food for low blood sugar.
16. Diabetics should never limit their water intake.