Glucometer vs Hba1c?

[sweetnsuga123]

Hi,
I've been experiencing dry mouth/thirst for a couple of days so measured myself fasting using a glucometer and got 5.3 and 4.5 the next day. I went to the GP today and she ordered me a Hba1c test which I've just had done. I'm just wondering what are the chances of the Hba1c being higher and me being diagnosed as diabetic? Can there be a big difference between the two? I am worried.
Thankyou

 

[MelissaC]

Hi @sweetnsuga123 Have you got any other symptoms? Try not to be worried, I know it's easier said than done

 

[sweetnsuga123]

Hi @sweetnsuga123 Have you got any other symptoms? Try not to be worried, I know it's easier said than done

Hi, I've had no other symptoms.

 

[GrantGam]

Hi,
I've been experiencing dry mouth/thirst for a couple of days so measured myself fasting using a glucometer and got 5.3 and 4.5 the next day. I went to the GP today and she ordered me a Hba1c test which I've just had done. I'm just wondering what are the chances of the Hba1c being higher and me being diagnosed as diabetic? Can there be a big difference between the two? I am worried.
Thankyou

4.5mmol/l and 5.3mmol/l are good fasting results

The HbA1c paints a bigger picture regarding your blood glucose levels and will give a good indication as to whether you're diabetic or not. You can read more about the test here:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

You can also have a look through this link, for more information regarding where you blood glucose levels should be:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

 

[sweetnsuga123]

4.5mmol/l and 5.3mmol/l are good fasting results

The HbA1c paints a bigger picture regarding your blood glucose levels and will give a good indication as to whether you're diabetic or not. You can read more about the test here:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

You can also have a look through this link, for more information regarding where you blood glucose levels should be:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

Thankyou, so with those fasting readings what would your guess be on my overall HbA1c results?

 

[Winterwatch]

Hi,
I've been experiencing dry mouth/thirst for a couple of days so measured myself fasting using a glucometer and got 5.3 and 4.5 the next day. I went to the GP today and she ordered me a Hba1c test which I've just had done. I'm just wondering what are the chances of the Hba1c being higher and me being diagnosed as diabetic? Can there be a big difference between the two? I am worried.
Thankyou

It is good that you are getting it checked and it is obviously easier said than done, but I would try not to be too worried at this stage. I am not sure what the situation is for type 2s, but when I was diagnosed, my sugars were over 15 mmol/l 8 hours after eating. 5.3 and 4.5 are perfectly normal numbers so don't stress yourself out just yet.

There is a hba1c converter here - it deals with average rather than fasting numbers though: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-units-converter.html

 

[Kieron10]

I will never trust the hba1c again. The last 4 I've just had are all the same... Excatly the same. So i check my bloods 394 times in last 90 days and average is 10.4 but yet doctors is 6.5!! Luckily i noticed so now running every test under the sun. Oh and they all missed the fact I'm anemic and have been for 2 years we know are body's best not any doctor or specialist.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Thankyou, so with those fasting readings what would your guess be on my overall HbA1c results?

There is no way on Earth that anyone can predict an Hba1c result from a couple of fasting finger prick tests. I am not an advocate of fasting tests anyway since liver dumps happen and you might be reading them.

The Hba1c test will look at blood sugar levels over the past two to three months and you will not have been fasting for this period. Wait for the result and come back here.

 

[sweetnsuga123]

There is no way on Earth that anyone can predict an Hba1c result from a couple of fasting finger prick tests. I am not an advocate of fasting tests anyway since liver dumps happen and you might be reading them.

The Hba1c test will look at blood sugar levels over the past two to three months and you will not have been fasting for this period. Wait for the result and come back here.

Oh okay sorry for my ignorance. I just thought that if I was getting normal finger prick tests then it might be more likely that the Hba1c would be normal too but I didn't know whether there is usually a big difference.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Oh okay sorry for my ignorance. I just thought that if I was getting normal finger prick tests then it might be more likely that the Hba1c would be normal too but I didn't know whether there is usually a big difference.

We are always much higher after eating than before eating as that is when the glucose from our food hits our blood stream. Before the next meal the glucose has mostly dispersed so our levels will be lower.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

Oh okay sorry for my ignorance. I just thought that if I was getting normal finger prick tests then it might be more likely that the Hba1c would be normal too but I didn't know whether there is usually a big difference.

Did I sound as though I was nagging. If I did then I apologise. If you didn't know the answer then that is why you asked the question and that is what this form is for.

 

[azure]

@sweetnsuga123 Can I move this to Ask A Question for you?

 

[Mr_Pot]

I will never trust the hba1c again. The last 4 I've just had are all the same... Excatly the same. So i check my bloods 394 times in last 90 days and average is 10.4 but yet doctors is 6.5!! Luckily i noticed so now running every test under the sun. Oh and they all missed the fact I'm anemic and have been for 2 years we know are body's best not any doctor or specialist.

An HbA1c of 6.5 equates to a BG of 7.8. Did you also include tests throughout the night as these would be included in the HbA1c. There are several reasons why HbA1c can be inaccurate, anaemia is one them.

 

[Deleted Account]

It's always worthwhile remembering that HbA1C is an AVERAGE.
For example, if you always take a faster BG finger prick, your HbA1C is likely to be higher as it will include the highs you get after eating. Like wise, if you always take a BG finger prick after dinner, your HbA1C is likely to be lower.

As a Type 1, I am not a fan of HbA1C because it ignores my big BG swings from hypo to 12.5. The best way of finding out what is really happening is a CGM or Libre. Unfortunately, these are not cheap and rarely available on the NHS.

 

[Bluetit1802]

As a Type 1, I am not a fan of HbA1C because it ignores my big BG swings from hypo to 12.5. The best way of finding out what is really happening is a CGM or Libre. Unfortunately, these are not cheap and rarely available on the NHS.

This is what I am always banging on about. It applies equally to T2s (except we don't normally go hypo low)
I prefer to rely on my own monitoring than base anything on my HbA1c results.