The A1C tests reveal the level of blood sugar in the body for the past 2-3 months. The test measures the glucose attached to hemoglobin cells. These cells have a lifespan of three months. So, the A1C test can not only diagnose diabetes but also reveal important information about a person’s management of the condition. This can help doctors modify treatment plans based on the test results. Lower A1C levels indicate that your diabetes is under control. A score of 6.5% or above can indicate type 2 diabetes. If your score is higher than 6.5%, you might need to make some serious changes in your diet, lifestyle, and treatment plan to control your blood sugar effectively. Tips to lower your A1C levels

• Lead an active lifestyle. Include 30-40 minutes of exercise at least five times a week. Apart from your scheduled workout, include games and other activities in your life, such as playing a sport.

Your doctor can guide you about your requirement for physical activities based on your health needs. You may need to exercise more often to achieve lower A1C levels.

• Diet plays a significant role in diabetes management. If you are lax with your ideal diabetes diet, you may need to make modifications to your current food plans for lower A1C levels.

You may need to eat more fiber and avoid fried and processed foods. When blood sugar levels are under control, a person with diabetes can eat all foods in moderation. However, to manage the disease, a lifelong commitment to healthy eating is warranted. Say yes to:

• Whole grains – brown rice, wheat bran, barley, millets
• Green leafy vegetables, carrots, cucumbers
• Citrus fruits, berries
• Fish – salmon, tuna
• Legumes

Say no to:

• Fried foods
• High-fat dairy
• Sugar-rich drinks
• Red meat

Eat in moderation:

• Low-fat dairy
• Nuts
• Maintaining a schedule for eating is very important in diabetes management. Avoid overeating and skipping meals.

The A1C levels are specific to each person. Diabetes requires lifelong management and lower A1C levels can indicate good health. Follow your doctor’s recommendations for diet, exercise, and medicines.

Peanut butter bars are the easiest desserts to bake. Even kids love to experiment with this recipe because of how simple it is. They also make a good treat for parties and impromptu get togethers. Peanut butter bars usually have a thick crust, one that is very very easy to make. Here are two recipes for irresistibly decadent peanut butter bars. Creamy Peanut Butter Bars Ingredients 2 sticks salted butter, softened, plus more for greasing the pan 1 cup chunky peanut butter 2 cups powdered sugar One 12-ounce box vanilla wafers One 12-ounce bag mini semisweet chocolate chips Frosting 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips ½ cup creamy peanut butter ½ cup chopped peanuts Directions Whip the butter and peanut butter until smooth paste forms. Add in sugar as you stir the paste. In a food processor add the vanilla wafers, and churn until they form crumbs. Add this and the mini chocolate chips in the peanut butter mixture. Pour this evenly into the greased pan and set aside to cool. Melt the chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter in a double boiler. Allow the melted chocolate to cool for a few minutes and then pour it over the base. Spread this evenly without forming lumps and sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top to give it a special tinge of flavor. Cool this for an hour in the fridge, so it can set well. Cut it into even bars before you serve this dessert. Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bars Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray 1 ½ cups confectioners' sugar 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs 1 cup creamy peanut butter Kosher salt 8 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted 8 ounces semisweet baking chocolate, chopped into small pieces 1 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon flaky sea salt (optional) Directions Spray the nonstick cooking spray on a baking tray. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar and peanut butter. Add 1/8 teaspoon salt, and melted butter. Pour this mixture into the baking tray and set it aside to cool. Heat the cream in a bowl until you see bubbles form. Pour this cream onto the chocolate and 1/8 teaspoon of salt, allow it to set and then whisk it. Pour this set ganache over the peanut butter mixture. Keep it to cool in the fridge overnight, so it can set well. Cut it into even bars before you serve this dessert. When you serve, sprinkle some flaky salt on it.

Small businesses have two forms of financing - debt and equity. Debt financing includes small commercial loans which you may apply for at banks and financial institutions. The loan allows a business to meet its day-to-day cash requirements without disrupting its overall budget. How to apply for a small commercial loan? There are a number of banks and financial institutions that offer commercial loans for your business. Below are certain steps that you need to follow when applying for a loan: Determine the purpose First of all, you need to know the purpose of the loan. This will help you decide on the loan amount and the tenure. For instance, if you need funds to pay off an outstanding debt, the amount of the loan will be almost similar to the amount you owe and the tenure of the loan will depend on your monthly paying capacity. Similarly, if you need funds to buy inventory for your business, you may choose to go for a lump sum that you may allocate towards inventory purchase. Compare lenders There are numerous lenders in the industry. Compare the terms and conditions offered by them and choose the one that has the most favorable terms for you. Do not apply for a loan with the first lender you come across. Take time and study the lenders and their deals before you make your decision. Review your credit score For a business less than three years old, the personal credit history will also be evaluated. Hence, review your score before you make an application. Get the personal and business credit history in order. Review the credit report and if you see any errors, write to the agency regarding the same. Approach the lender After you have decided on the amount you want and the lender you want to borrow from, approach the lender with proper documentation. Apart from the business documents, the lender might also ask for your income tax statement to determine your ability to repay the loan. Your application for a small commercial loan will only be processed if the documents are in place. Seek an appointment with the lender, establish the repayment tenure, and understand the terms of repayment. Remember to make use of the funds as planned and also take necessary steps for the repayment of the loan each month. With a positive repayment history, you will be able to enjoy easy and quick approval of similar loans in the future.

Here are some of the new Android phone releases of 2017 that proved to be tough competitors to each other:

• The Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8+ were among the best Android cell phones.
• The Xiaomi MI 6 and the Xiaomi MI 6 Plus are among the latest Android cell phones among the new Android phones of 2017.
• Among the latest Android phones was the ZTE AXON 8 that caught the interest of the consumers with its amazing specifications, features and budget pricing.
• HTC U was released in 2017 with the Snapdragon 835.
• OnePlus 5 also came out, and as the company has already set its mark with good features and affordably priced products, OnePlus 5 came to be listed among the best Android phones for the year.
• The Moto Z and Moto Z Force lived up to the modular approach hence found itself listed among the best Android phones.
• The LG V30 was announced in the month of October which seemed to have been among the best Android cell phones.
• Xperia XZ Premium with its 5.46 inches screen and the Xperia XZ with a display of 5.20 inches established themselves among the best Android smartphones for the year 2017.

Below is a list of affordable Android phones on discounts that can be availed in the current year 2018:

• Verizon is offering great Android phone discounts with an appropriate trade in that allows one 50% off on some of the best Android cell phones such as Google Pixel 2, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, Motorola Z2 Force, etc.
• There are ongoing Android phone offers provided by Sprint like "buy one get one free" that enables one to get a new Android phone for free.  Some of the Android phone sales offers provided by Sprint are buying the Samsung Galaxy S9 for around $297, etc., which lets the customer get 50% off on the latest Android cell phones while buying them if they select the 18-month flex lease offered by Sprint.

As per the Android cell phone reviews by consumers, an Android phone comparison can be drawn to formulate a list of 10 best Android smartphones for the year 2018.

• On the 10^th position having fixed itself is the HTC U11 which is available at a price of around $650.
• One place higher is the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 that can be purchased at approximately $900.
• The Motorola Moto Z2 Play has secured its position at 8 and can be acquired at $500.
• Subsequently, LG G6 available for $460 is at the 7^th place and is following the Essential PH-1 at spot 6 that can be bought for $450.
• Position 4 and 5 as per Android cell phone reviews are acquired respectively by Motorola Moto X4  which is priced at around $300 and LG V30 which is priced at around $740.
• Affixed at the top 3 positions in the market in the ascending order is OnePlus 5T priced at around $500, Samsung Galaxy S9 available at $719 and Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL priced at around $600.

 

If you have been waiting to buy an Amazon Fire tablet, now is the best time to do so. The budget tablet is cheaper than ever before. This makes the Fire tablet one of the cheapest tablets available at present which is a deal worth considering. The Fire tablet is no way comparable to the iPad's functionality, but it is a fantastic device for your everyday needs. It makes a perfect birthday gift for your children, with its rugged build and high level of parental controls. So, pick up the Fire tablet for yourself or for your loved ones. You may ask what makes the Fire tablet so special. This tablet is loaded with features. Amazon is known for offering a world-class shopping experience; but also for their e-reading devices and tablets. Previously known as the Amazon Kindle Fire, the Fire tablet has 16 GB storage and powerful battery backup. Here is a detailed breakdown of each aspects of the Fire tablet. Overall performance When the tablet was launched, it had an 8 GB of storage and there was a micro SD slot through which you could improve the storage. This was a handy device, particularly if you inserted a 32 GB memory card. But now, you can buy the Fire tablet with in-built 16GB storage which is enough for light usage and browsing online. Loading new apps takes no more than a few seconds and it is smooth while using different apps and switching between them. The Fire tablet also offers more than 8 hours of video playback. Design Besides offering a powerful battery and extensive storage, you can get the tablet in blue, magenta, and tangerine colors. These colors are bright and they look fantastic. This plays an important role if you have chosen to buy the Fire tablet for children. The back panel has a matte finish which is preferable to the gloss which is prone to fingerprints and scratches. Camera and display Given its cheap price point, you cannot expect the device to have an amazing screen. But the 59.3 percent RGB coverage is going to surprise you with its high performance of color display. The images and videos have an amazing amount of depth and accuracy. The rear camera is 2-megapixel and the sensor is perfect for taking snaps in broad daylight. There is also an HDR mode but it takes about a second to capture images. There is no flash, which is understandable if you consider the low price point. You will have to rely on natural light while shooting indoors. These few features make the Fire tablet a perfect purchase. If you had been looking for a tablet for quite some time, this is the best option to invest in.

Sensor neural is the most common type of hearing loss. It usually happens due to damage to the tiny hair cells that line the interior of the inner ear. These cells are instrumental in converting sounds into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain, which reinterprets them as sounds. Aging and chronic exposure to loud noises are the most common causes of damage. Apart from this, certain illnesses, family history, and medications are also some significant factors behind hearing loss. Hearing loss is not reversible, but it can be managed with hearing aids. In fact, digital machines, such as the Costco hearing aids, apart from filtering out background noise, can also be fine-tuned to a specific loss pattern. Types of hearing aids Digital hearing aids are of five different types and are classified on the basis of where they are worn – on the ear or in the ear.

• Mini behind the ear: The receiver goes inside the ear canal. It is comfortable and barely visible. However, a wax build-up may limit the life of the receiver.
• Behind the ear: This is worn behind the ear. The sound is sent through the tubing that connects the case of aid to the receiver. This model has flexible features, the right amount of amplification, and is easy to adjust. However, it is often visible and prone to wax build up.
• Completely in the canal: This machine fits deep inside the ear canal, so it is less visible and less sensitive to wind and noise. However, it is too small, leading to a plugged up feeling, and is prone to wax build up and has a short battery life.
• In the canal hearing aid: Barely visible and less of a plugged up feeling, these are also prone to wax accumulation and has a short battery life.
• In the ear hearing aid: All its components rest in a case in the bowl of the ear. Though there is more room for features, the machine is more visible.

There are specific hearing aid features, such as those available in Costco hearing aids, which make them a desirable choice. The option of multi-program settings, automatic noise level adjustments, reducing high-pitched whistling sounds, wax guards, etc. are some of them. Read on to know some useful tips, which will help you choose the best hearing aid:

• Look for experienced healthcare professionals: A knowledgeable healthcare professional will guide you through all your options. He will find a fit that will suit your budget and your hearing needs.
• Check for insurance coverage: Although most insurance companies do not cover hearing aids, some like Medicare Advantage can get you partially covered for batteries, maintenance cost, etc.
• Opt for a written contract: There should be a written contract, detailing out conditions regarding return of the aid, trial period, length of warranty and what is included in the price.
• Be realistic in choosing the features: Go for only those features that you are sure you will need. Bluetooth capability is a convenient add-on, but it is unnecessary if you are not going to use it.
• Get a good bargain: Ask for a price break up. Also, ask your healthcare provider the comparative pros and cons of one aid over other. For instance, there are frequent screenings of Costco hearing aids at specific select locations, and attractive prices are offered on hearing aids. Book an appointment before you go as they provide an on-site audiologist.

Choosing a good hearing aid can be intimidating, but if you are opting for machines like the Costco hearing aids, they can make a world of difference in your daily life.