At the start of June my next A1c had gone up to 38. Even allowing that A1c tests are not very accurate, that was at least no better than my previous A1c.( I would have expected at worst 34 = average 5.8). 38 = average 6.4. It is very rare for me to see a meter reading at any time as high as 6. I try to avoid going as high as 5.6. So why this discrepancy? I am hoping soon to start testing with a Libre for a while, and maybe this will show something quite unexpected, as it did with you. Is something happening in the middle of the night, or a rise in response to eating protein and even fat that I am not catching, even though I often test repeatedly after meals?
This is how unreliable HbA1c tests can be, particularly someone with Hb variants and other forms of Red blood cell peculiarities. (and very few of us know if we have these anomalies)
My results in mid June.
My own data with rigorous testing 6 to 8 times a day converted to HbA1c measurements = 33
MySugr estimate = 32.5
Libre HbA1c estimate = 32
A1cNow (Home HbA1c test) = 33
Actual HbA1c = 43.
An HbA1c of 43 is equivalent to an average of 7.1mmol/l
Hand on heart, I have only seen the odd level of 7, maybe 2 or 3 times at an hour after main meal, and then very briefly before it falls. I live most of the day and all of the night in the 4s and 5s. Post meal 5s and 6s.
Queried with GP who believes my data, is concerned, and has contacted the biochemist at the lab my practice uses. The biochemist is arranging for my blood to be sent to another lab at Salford Royal Hospital that uses a different measuring system that can eliminate some of the peculiarities in Hb.
