How often do you have an HBa1C ?

[Grazer]

I asked for one after 6 months but was told that as my last one was good, 5.9, I couldn't have another one till the 12 months were up. All very well, but if it goes up then 12 months is a long time to wait and find out! Especially as that "good" one was my first after diagnosis.

 

[viviennem]

Every 3 months or so at the moment; they generally do a lipid profile at the same time. I have liver & kidney function, thryoid and Vit B12 (I'm on Metformin) at least once a year as well.

If he's offered you a second opinion, Benniesmum, I'd call his bluff and ask to see a diabetic specialist at your nearest hospital. Also consider complaining - you are trying to be pro-active in your treatment and he's denying you the tools!

What diet are you following, by the way? Could you reduce your carbohydrate intake at all? If you are already controlling your carb intake and your levels are still worsening, all the more reason to discuss things with someone who'll listen to you!

Viv 8)

 

[heathclowes]

I have mine every 3 months as I suffer with high levels and until we know what is causing the tummy problems i can only taking 1000g of glucophage, my doctor has also allowed me to have strips as well to check myself, the reason why i could get the strips was we are trying to get pregnant my hubby and i.

 

[benniesmum]

Thanks vivennem - I'm planning to do exactly that.

I can probably cut my carbs some more, although I only really eat bread (no pots or rice). I'm not following a specific diet, just cut back on carbs and snacks. I'm thinking of trying a few weeks on one of these liquid replacement diets. Anyyone tried these?

 

[viviennem]

A few people are doing the liquid replacement, 600kcal diet, under medical supervision. Have a look at active threads under Weight Loss. Kenny, Patch and Bowell are heroically being guinea pigs for the rest of us - and doing well, too!

Also have a look at my Viv's Modified Atkins Diet under Low carb Diabetes Diet - it's a sticky thread, at the top of the posts.

Viv 8)

 

[Sanober]

Mine is every 3 months for now on the nhs

Basically I get given the special bloods packet to take in to the nurse and she basically does the test and I get my results about 5 working days later.

I keep getting told it's because I'm an 'unsual case' and not on any medication yet and a 'well controlled' diabetic so they want to monitor this way until I get my big official conclusive meeting with the specialist next month.

Conclusive? Didn't happen really, clear on MODY tests, now suggestions of type 1.5/LADA - 3 monthly Hba1c to continue.

 

[Catpowernap]

Just been for my first 3 month bloods, but now having to wait for a month to see the Nurse for the results, rather maddening when you can get same day appointments with a GP at my surgery! Ho hum I just have to hope that nothing has gone seriously **** up since diagnosis I guess!

 

[jumbleannie1VDJQ]

Annually. This year 6.6 which is better than last years 6.9. Doc says that's fine and since on diet only, and officially pre diabetic who am I to argue. I am surprised though as most peeps on here seem to be lower,on meds, and tested more often

 

[diadeb]

I am well controlled on diet and exercise only, latest HbA1c 5.8. When initally diagnosed in 2008 I got HbA1c measured every 3 months now it's every 6 months because it's stable. I also have bloods taken for Thyroid function, Liver function tests, lipids and trigs, fasting glucose, HbA1c and urine speciman to lab on an annual basis. Debra x

 

[michlo]

Have my test every 3 months , see the Nurse when she wants me too(6 months until next appointment), taking medication(Metformin) and a shift worker so i am encouraged to test on night shifts and late shifts to ensure BS is steady as always a shock when its 17 at 3am.....and i havent eaten since 8pm....

No probs with getting test strips etc but only use 50 test strips every 2 months which is more than adequate as i dont test 2-3 times per day..

Was 7.3 and 7.2 last 2 HBa1C but this time 5.8 having lost 15kg since the last test...

 

[Unbeliever]

I have allways had HBA!cs every three months and the consultant at the hospital earlier this year said I should continue to do so. At my annual review 4 months ago the Dr suggested I might leave it for 4 months as I was well controlled.

Yesterday I went along to the surgery and arranged a test at the blood clinic for tomorrow.

I intended to make an appointment wih a Gp as there are a few issues with my medication. I wished to discuss.

Oh poor innocent creature that I am ! This afternoon I received a call from one of the nurses.

Why had I made this appointment? What made me think I had to do so? She had cancelled this appointment and would make another for a diabetic check up and they would take the blood there and that would be better for me as I would ony need to go there once!

I disagreed that it would be better for me. The results would not be available for me to discuss with anyone. I waas trying to juggle my apponint,ents so that the flu jab appointment {which made me ill last year] would not impact upon the blood test . I had been prescribed a medication which was not on my repeat list and needed to discuss whether I should continue with it - the results of the HBA1C would surely be needed for this. Then I am just recovering from an eye operation and need all this sorting out before I return to the eye clinic where they would need all my lates results.

Mucht utting. Well, she would send a prescription through to the chemist for the medication that had run out and the DSN would ring me the following week if any change was needed.

I have posted before about the horror shown by any of the Gps if they are asked a question about diabees.
The DSMN who knows more than the doctors {apparently} is the one who told me that pioglitazone was perfectly safe for my macular oedema. The NHS says it is not to be used for macular oedema because it makes it worse.

Maybe she does know more than he drs but she doesn't know much.

So my HBA1C will be almost 5 months instead of the three which tthe consultant recommended. I know from experience that if I ring for results I will be told "Normal" or given the wrong information/

So what is all this about? I know they get their funding by the numbers turning up for these check ups but surely the welfare of the patient should be considered at some point.

The nurse old me I had seen a Gp last time {annual review] but Iwas not able to ask her anything about my medication because she was supervising a student and called out of the room on a few occcasions.
Then they wonder that my BP goes up when I go there whereas it is fine in the hospital even under stressful circumstances.

Obviously they are not even pretending the patients are anything more than a number.

When I go to the hospital they expect me to know all my results let alone the HBA1c My practice think it doesn't matter unless its on the wrong side of their targets. I will be told if there is any change required to my medicaion. If not , I will be told nothing.

Sorry. Rant over

 

[wellwell1212]

\has been an annual check but, had x2 in past year or so. Round here they don't like do it every x3 months my Doc said.

 

[Unbeliever]

Don't think its the norm to do it every 3 months but think they might know after 4 years.


I think the problem is that they don't read the notes. I keep copies of all important letters and take them to my appointments because they never seem to read case notes. Too much trouble to look back a few sceens on the computer.

 

[Ricky]

I'm one of the lucky ones who is still getting strips at the moment as I think they have forgotten about me. The doctor who originally prescribed them has now retired!!! This means I am scared to ask for an Hb1Ac in case they realise my luck and stop my strips. I get a repeat prescription so if/when they are stopped I will then ask for regular Hb1Ac tests!! It is interesting that I have been to the doctor's a few times recently - seen 3 different doctors about a skin problem that has just appeared - thought to be psoriasis and they obviously haven't looked back in my notes.......... Need I say more about our marvellous NHS!! My last Hb1Ac was about a year ago when I was called in to see the nurse to have my BP checked and she suggested having all the blood tests done. I probably didn't mention getting strips to her!!! My previous one was in 2008!!!

 

[viviennem]

I know I get a fantastic medical sevice from my surgery in comparison to other people on this forum, but even with our 'walk-in, no appointments' system we still only get 7.5 minutes with the doctor.

In fairness to GPs, no-one could read and absorb all my notes and treat me in that time; also, my records on the computer only go back to 2008, so there are 50-odd years' worth of illnesses and treatments that they can't be aware of unless I tell them. That's why I usually go in armed with a list.

They hate that! :lol:

Unbeliever, your nurse sounds like a real bully! I don't know how I'd deal with that, short of writing a complaint to the practice manager. Do push to get print-outs of your test results. We are allowed access to our medical records now, and to my mind that includes free copies of my test results.

Viv

 

[Unbeliever]

Strangely enough Viv , the nurse who rang me up {sister] is known as the "pussycat " amongst them all and has recentky been trained in diabetes , probably because, there have been complaints about the DSN!

When I reently complained to one of the Drs -who was trying to fob me off with the nurse- and I told her that the DSN had advised me that I would have to take a drug which by its very name I knew would be unsuitable for me- - she told me to go to the other nurse- the one who rang.

I shall certainly demand a printout but I feel that it is putting the cart before the horse to do a checkup and take the bolood sample at the same time. I am not even sure that the results will now be available before my appointmenyt at the hospital.

If I have to see the DSN for "weights and measures" every time I have an HBA1 C that will mean 4 times a year. My weight and BP are not an issue so why is this necessary? Does anyone else do this? Maybe it is to boost the figures attending diabetic checks. and also prevent the patient discussing their results.

I shall certainly have plenty to say to the DSN but I have said it all before. They have several skins and each ime here is the same mountain to climb. Instead of feeling that I am going to get help or advice it is like going into battle . I am sure the stress can't be helping my levels.

 

[Grazer]

If I have to see the DSN for "weights and measures" every time I have an HBA1 C that will mean 4 times a year.

Arguably, you're lucky! Mine won't even see me, let alone give me an HbA1c, more than once a year. At least my one is friendly enough when I do see her. Shame she's not very knowledgeable about Diabetes though.

 

[Unbeliever]

Arguably, you're lucky! Mine won't even see me, let alone give me an HbA1c, more than once a year. At least my one is friendly enough when I do see her. Shame she's not very knowledgeable about Diabetes though.[/quote]

Not really, I have no weight problem , my BP is fine . I can have my HBA1C at the blood clinic - which i prefer because they are more used o taking blood and don't leave you with plasters all over your arms and huge bruises.

My DSN knows nothing much about diabetes either. I think insulin may be her field of ezpertise because that is all she ever talks to me about. My last HBA1C was 6.5. She told me that I would have to go on pioglitazone last time I saw her, if i didn'y goon insulin. I demurred at tthe thought of anything with a "glitazone" in its name as rosiglitazone is thought to have caused my macular oedema.
She insisted it was fine for me. I went home and googled it and it is not o be used where the patient has macular oedema as it makes it worse, This is on the front page of the NHS leaflet about the disease.Anyone is welcome to my share of nursie checkups.

They actually scare me. The doctors just seem to sign anything the nurses put before them
without even checking. The nurse who rang me swas so determined to get her own way that when I daiid I needed to discuss whether I should continue taking some medication which had been prescribed by a doctor I managed to get at she said she would phone a prescription through to my chemist. I explained that I had wanted the bloods done for the Dr to make the decision. She said it was OK. The DSN would phone me if there was any change to the medicaion.
None of these nurses is able to prescribe in her own right.
The prescription for 60 days supply was there within half an hour! That was the amount I was originally prescribed and the doctor did not want to put it on repeat prescription at hat ime before I had another test.
I am really worried about what will happen when the time comes hat I am unable to see the computer any longer and can't check on what they are doing o me.

 

[Ricky]

Have you tried a low carb/low GI diet like I use as I reduced my Hb1Ac down to 5.5 from 6.6 with this . I take no medication. I am also not overweight and new have been. I also exercise in a gym a few times a week and do body system classes.

 

[Jim H]

Looking at the calender, I last went to the diabetic clinic on 28th March, and recently I received a letter for an appointment booked 25th October. So basically I go every 6 to 7 months.

My T2 is controlled by diet and Metformin, I don't have a meter to check glucose levels (they say I don't need one with Metformin), so the HBa1c is the only way of monitoring my diabetes.