Confused

[Flo-63]

Hi, I was diagnosed in November with type 2 while my doc was testing hormone levels after hysterectomy. I was told 6.6, and given metformin. Starting one x 500 per day and build up to 4, which I've found challenging but managed and also lost 1 stone. Changed my diet, cut out sugar and cot down massively on carbs. I had my 3 month blood test last week and when I called for the results, I was given the number 59. The receptionist couldn't enlighten me what it meant and if that was better or worse than before. Can't speak to a nurse until the 12th March. Any advice on what these numbers mean and why so different would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jasmin2000]

Hi, I was diagnosed in November with type 2 while my doc was testing hormone levels after hysterectomy. I was told 6.6, and given metformin. Starting one x 500 per day and build up to 4, which I've found challenging but managed and also lost 1 stone. Changed my diet, cut out sugar and cot down massively on carbs. I had my 3 month blood test last week and when I called for the results, I was given the number 59. The receptionist couldn't enlighten me what it meant and if that was better or worse than before. Can't speak to a nurse until the 12th March. Any advice on what these numbers mean and why so different would be greatly appreciated.

Hi @Flo-63 - given that these figures are 3 months apart I'm guessing that they are HbA1c values (an estimate of blood glucose over 3 months - see here https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/hba1c).

A1c can be reported as a % or as mmol/mol values and it's not helpful that you were given one of each!
So your first A1c was 6.6% or 48 mmol/mol and the second was 59 mmol/mol or 7.5% (there's a converter in the link above).

I'm Type 1 so I can't comment on what a Type 2 should expect, but 6.6 doesn't sound too bad and I guess you'll need to be heading back in that direction.

 

[EllieM]

Hi @Flo-63 and welcome to the forums.

I suspect you are confused by the fact that diabetes is usually diagnosed via hba1c and there are two different measuring symptoms for hba1c. It can be measured in mmol/mol or % . It is linked to your average blood sugar over the last 3 months because it measures the sugar that has attached to your red blood cells (which live about 3 months).

Glycosylated haemoglobin & diabetes. HbA1c facts, units, diagnosis, testing frequency, limitations, control & conversion. How blood glucose levels link to A1c.

Glycosylated haemoglobin & diabetes. HbA1c facts, units, diagnosis, test frequency, limitations, control, conversion. How blood glucose levels link to A1c.

www.diabetes.co.uk

So you are diabetic if you have an Hba1c greater than or equal to 6.5% or 48mmol/mol . Then if you do an ordinary blood test with a glucometer your blood sugar is measured in mmol/L and (for a non diabetic) is normally between 4mmol/L and 8mmol/L (s0metimes a bit lower or higher).
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Are you able to look at your medical records online? My guess is that the 6.6 is 6.6% and the 59 is 59mmol/mol , but a check of the units used for the measurements would confirm that.

Here is a converter
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-converter.html

6.6% is the same as 49mmol/mol and is equivalent to an average blood sugar of 7.9mmol/L
59mmol/mol is equivalent to 7.5% and is equivalent to an average blood sugar of 9.4mmol/L

I hope this helps, and I haven't just managed to confuse you more.

Once more, welcome.

 

[Flo-63]

Thank you. That does make a bit more sense now. I've order a meter so will start using that and hopefully get to grips with it all.