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Bloods and stuff

Si T2

Si T2

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello,

I've recently been diagnosed on two fasting blood tests, luckily for me my endocrinologist added in blood glucose. Unfortunately I've got quite a bit going on so time with my GP gets a bit garbled between the various issues.

I was wondering if someone could help me out here and explain what these mean.

So first test random glucose was 8.3
Second random glucose 8.0

hbA1c 54

I was diagnosed on the two random glucose tests, it was explained that because they were above 7 I'm a type 2. The hbA1c I found out from some other forms I needed to take to a pre surgical assessment so I've not been officially given that one.

The random glucose I get, its out of range however I can't figure out from the web whether the hbA1c should be 5.4% or 54 and/or what units are used so I can't figure out what it means etc.

Current management is via diet and I've not (yet) seen a DSN (got major surgery happening so that bit is on hold under after).

Oh I'm rambling so question is what are the ranges for blood glucose, are mine good/bad etc and what does the hbA1c jobber mean?

Thanks all :)

Si
 
I'll lob this in for starters. More to come.

The HbA1c blood test
If you have diabetes, your HbA1c level may be read every 2-6 months by your doctor or nurse. This test measures your recent average blood glucose level. The test measures a part of the red blood cells. Glucose in the blood attaches to part of the red blood cells. This part can be measured and gives a good indication of your average blood glucose over the previous 2-3 months.

For people with diabetes, treatment aims to lower the HbA1c level to below a target level which is usually agreed between you and your doctor. Ideally, the aim is to maintain your HbA1c to less than 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) but this may not always be possible to achieve and the target level of HbA1c should be agreed on an individual basis between you and your doctor. (For example, by increasing the dose of medication, improving your diet, etc.)

It is now recommended that HbA1c can also be used as a test to diagnose diabetes. An HbA1c value of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or above is recommended as the blood level for diagnosing diabetes.
 
Basically your HBA1C test looks at what your blood glucose levels have been over a period of time( usually over the last 3 months), and the random test will be what they were at the time of testing.

It can be quite confusing because different units can be used, and you will still see both values sometimes, which I actually found very confusing when I was first diagnosed (and apparently still do! The main http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ will explain all this if you want all the nitty gritty, and has a conversion table somewhere if you need to use it. [see Bluetit's post below.]

Your random glucose results are measured in mmol/L which are the units used in the UK (but they use different ones in the USA). if you are given ( or buy) a blood glucose testing meter in the UK this will also measure in your readings in mmol/L, so you'll have starting point to check how you're doing.

Detials of UK recommended glucose level ranges can be found here.

Robbity

23/02: Edited to remove incorrect information.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Ahh ok, makes sense, thank you gents.

So I guess the aim of the game then is to get random glucose down under the magic 7 mark and HbA1c down to around 40 or so?
 
Robbity said:
Basically your HBA1C test looks at what your blood glucose levels have been over a period of time( usually over the last 3 months), and the random test will be what they were at the time of testing.

It can be quite confusing because different units can be used - the current measurement used for HBA1C testing is shown as a percentage, so your 54 figure is 54%. This was previously measured using different units, but I believe was changed fairly recently (but before my time!) to avoid some sort of confusion. You will still see the old values sometimes, which I actually found very confusing when I was first diagnosed! The main http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ will explain all this if you want all the nitty gritty, and has a conversion table somewhere if you need to use it.

Your random glucose results are measured in mmol/L which are the units used in the UK (but they use different ones in the USA). if you are given ( or buy) a blood glucose testing meter in the UK this will also measure in your readings in mmol/L, so you'll have starting point to check how you're doing.

Detials of UK recommended glucose level ranges can be found here.

Robbity
Click to expand...

Sorry Robbity, the current measurement unit for HbA1c is in mmol/mol. The old measurement unit was a percentage, although some labs still use this old measurement.

An HbA1c of 54 is 54mmol/mol. This equates to 7.1% in old money, and also to 8.7mmol/l (the measurement units on finger prick meters)
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-converter.html
 
Ahh thats where I've be going wrong then. I couldn't puzzle out what the 54 meant.

I was trying to use the gauge chart on here http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html and it didn't make much sense. Now I understand the units that puts me in a worse place than I thought but something to aim for.

Thanks very much :)
 
Si T2 said:
Ahh thats where I've be going wrong then. I couldn't puzzle out what the 54 meant.

I was trying to use the gauge chart on here http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html and it didn't make much sense. Now I understand the units that puts me in a worse place than I thought but something to aim for.

Thanks very much :)
Click to expand...

It is confusing, and especially as very few people on here put the units after the figures when reporting levels. You will also see a lot of levels in the hundreds. These could well be American units (and other countries) and this gets really confusing. They measure in mg/dl units. Conversion chart here
http://www.soc-bdr.org/rds/authors/...version_glucose_mg_dl_to_mmol_l/index_en.html
but in the UK you won't see those units used.

You aren't in a bad place at all with your levels. An HbA1c of 54 isn't at all bad. Have you got a blood glucose meter? If not I strongly advise you to buy one.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Sorry Robbity, the current measurement unit for HbA1c is in mmol/mol. The old measurement unit was a percentage, although some labs still use this old measurement.

An HbA1c of 54 is 54mmol/mol. This equates to 7.1% in old money, and also to 8.7mmol/l (the measurement units on finger prick meters)
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-converter.html
Click to expand...
@Bluetit1802 Thanks - well I did say I was confused - but even more so than I thought!! I'll amend my post.

Robbity
 
Robbity said:
@Bluetit1802 Thanks - well I did say I was confused - but even more so than I thought!! I'll amend my post.

Robbity
Click to expand...

It is ridiculous to have all these different units floating about. Everyone gets confused. Many newbies think the % unit is the same as the units on our meters, and have a heck of a shock when they find out it isn't.
 
Heh i thought i was 5.4% :happy:

No blood glucose meter yet. Once im sorted in a month or so ill get in to see the dsn and see if i can get one prescribed, if not i'll go buy one. The scientist in me will end up quite addicted to the readings ;-)
 
@Si T2 - i have to apologise for my continuing confusion further confusing you!!:(

Definitely get a meter - even if you have to pay the ongoing costs yourself.

Robbity
 
Hi @Robbity no worries lol

I'll certainly be getting a monitor. Couple of other pressing things need to happen first (bit of jiggling things around via surgery) so diabetes has to go on hold for a few weeks while that happens then I'll be embracing taking chunks out of my fingers via poor lancet technique and embracing LCHF to see what weight loss does :)
 
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