Type 1: What are your HbA1c test results?

claire mccann

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Type of diabetes
Type 1
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My hba1c is 28 in new money, 4.7 in old money. This is too low but I’ve almost got scared of having a high blood sugar and spend half the day snacking to put my sugar back up to normal
 

Soplewis12

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My hba1c is 28 in new money, 4.7 in old money. This is too low but I’ve almost got scared of having a high blood sugar and spend half the day snacking to put my sugar back up to normal
Oh gosh Claire, that is low. My last hba1c was 41 in new money & 6.0 in old money. This was due to changing to a pump & becoming temporarily obsessed about keeping within my too tight targets. I've relaxed a bit now & libre2 showing estimated hba1c of 6.3.
Could you try & reduce your insulin doses? I feel much safer now & less worry about hypos now that I'm running BG a bit higher
 
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Marie 2

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LADA
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My A1c runs around 32 (5.1).

You should not have to snack all day each day to bring up or keep your levels higher. Ease up. If you have to do a basal test, do so. And it sounds like you know your IC ratio might be too strong. You know what you feel like when you go too low, it's yucky so why would you want that? Besides it not being good for you or safe. Let your numbers level off at a higher number and then you can tentatively start to tighten control for "better" control if that is what you want, but that also means not dropping too much. I don't like "too highs" either, but I don't go too low to achieve that. Less than 1% of the time do I drop below 3.9 (70).

Think about how much nicer to not have to worry about snacking all day or worrying about dropping too low. It sounds like you've gotten into some kind of pattern of control that's not good. Talk to your diabetic team or endo if that's who you use to determine your insulin amounts and what adjustments need to be done. But honestly, there isn't a good reason for you to have to keep fighting from going too low.

https://integrateddiabetes.com/basal-testing/
 

RoughcutAU

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709
First Post. First HbA1c (well after initial diagnosis) 40/5.8. Very happy with the result even if my Endo thinks my control, while very good for a beginner is alittle too tight.
 
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Antje77

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First Post. First HbA1c (well after initial diagnosis) 40/5.8. Very happy with the result even if my Endo thinks my control, while very good for a beginner is alittle too tight.
It depends. If you got that hba1c through very stable blood glucose with few hypos, it's perfect!
But if it's the result of a rollercoaster of highs and lows, not so much.
 

RoughcutAU

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709
It depends. If you got that hba1c through very stable blood glucose with few hypos, it's perfect!
But if it's the result of a rollercoaster of highs and lows, not so much.

I only have finger prick to go by as don’t have CGM but yes the vast majority of those are in target. A few 3.7 and above (less then ideal) and the rare above 8.0. Raised my ICR which seems to be doing the trick nicely.

Was told that while obviousily treat the high 3s regardless not to be super stressed about it as everyones body works different and its not unusual for people to function normally at this level. We just have to keep in mind accuracy of meter and the fact we manually take insulin.
 

oldgreymare

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Commuting, overcrowded spaces, especially after the arrival of covid-19...
Had my bloods done this week in prep for my 6 month endocrinologist phone consult Monday afternoon. Fortunately I can see the results within a couple days on the diabetes centre patient site. In spite of not always adhering to my low carb and exercise goals in the past few months, my lowest HbAC1 since diagnosis - 45 (6.3%). As I use a Dexcom G6 CGM I really focus on 'Time In Range' - I am still hypo aware with a couple slight hypo events each week. But unfortunately still in the 'High' range up to 13.5 mmol too much, though thankfully not much time in super high levels. Hopefully this will motivate me to try harder!
 

Soplewis12

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I'm having a bit of a difficult time at the moment keeping within range. My libre 2 is predicting 6.4, 46 mmol but it's not keeping nice & steady. I've been using the pump & libre for a year now but my needs are drastically different between weekdays & weekends. Drastically reduce my needs at the weekend with multiple temp basal rates & one day it works & other times I'm fighting low BG's all day. Feel as if it's getting worse rather than better.......
Being female & 52 years old I was planning to discuss HRT with my consultant at my video call in January but appt was cancelled until mid July. Think I'll need to approach diabetic specialist nurse as its really getting me down. Hey ho, the joys x
 

michelle88

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Messages
83
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My A1c on February 4 this year was 6.3% or 45 mmol which was an improvement from previously 6.8%. But then I got Covid 3 weeks later and my BG went haywire for a while :( Hope to keep it steadier until my next consultation.
 

Torres71

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
When I last had my hba1c checked in September 2021 it was 57 mmol or 7.4%. I have a Libre 2 & today it says 70 mmol or 8.6%. Seems things are heading in the wrong direction :(. I'll be having another hba1c blood test soon & a review with my diabetes specialist nurse.
 
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Soplewis12

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When I last had my hba1c checked in September 2021 it was 57 mmol or 7.4%. I have a Libre 2 & today it says 70 mmol or 8.6%. Seems things are heading in the wrong direction :(. I'll be having another hba1c blood test soon & a review with my diabetes specialist nurse.
It's never easy....... life always throws curve balls at us type 1's.
Best of luck
 
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DigitalWilson

Newbie
Messages
1
Diagnosed last year, started off really well then lost track when we had a baby, just received latest hba1c test and it's 82 mmol. Gutted and feel disheartened, but need to use it as a wake up call
 

oldgreymare

Well-Known Member
Messages
540
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Commuting, overcrowded spaces, especially after the arrival of covid-19...
Had my bloods done this week in prep for my 6 month endocrinologist phone consult Monday afternoon. Fortunately I can see the results within a couple days on the diabetes centre patient site. In spite of not always adhering to my low carb and exercise goals in the past few months, my lowest HbAC1 since diagnosis - 45 (6.3%). As I use a Dexcom G6 CGM I really focus on 'Time In Range' - I am still hypo aware with a couple slight hypo events each week. But unfortunately still in the 'High' range up to 13.5 mmol too much, though thankfully not much time in super high levels. Hopefully this will motivate me to try harder!
So had a really in depth call consult with my endo (nearly an hour!). Time In Range has been close to 70%. That said, he spent part of the time still complaining about my lipid profile (I consistently refuse statins, high LDL, high HDL, very low triglycerides). Then we went on to discuss my Dexcom AGP records - he's much less happy with my current record of hypos compared to what I'll tolerate (still fully hypo aware). So even with improved HbAC1, some more homework to improve 'Time In Range'.
 

oldgreymare

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Messages
540
Type of diabetes
Type 1
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Pump
Dislikes
Commuting, overcrowded spaces, especially after the arrival of covid-19...
What percentage of time do you spend below 4?
Over last 3 months - approx. 5%, mostly at night. Slightly lazy to correct in the middle of the night as I have strong dawn phenomenon response, so if a 3.0 corrected with 8 g dextrose at around 4 am, by 6 am I'm over 7.0 and rising to over 8.0.
 

StewM

Well-Known Member
Messages
390
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Over last 3 months - approx. 5%, mostly at night. Slightly lazy to correct in the middle of the night as I have strong dawn phenomenon response, so if a 3.0 corrected with 8 g dextrose at around 4 am, by 6 am I'm over 7.0 and rising to over 8.0.
I had similar issues to what you're describing a while back and I found pre-bed snacks helped a lot*, as they were out of my system before the dawn phenomenon hit. It's just a matter of figuring out the right carb portion size, and GI fit your needs best (that took me months to figure out).

*Ultimately however switching over to a pump has eliminated the problem entirely because of the ability to micromanage basal insulin.
 

Antje77

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Retired Moderator
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19,466
Type of diabetes
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H and H: H and H, sometimes written as "H&H", is a popular shorthand for hemoglobin and hematocrit, two very common and important blood tests. Hemoglobin
Do you have diabetes?
What is your hba1c?