• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Am I understanding this correctly?

Jo_the_boat

Well-Known Member
Messages
809
Location
Littleborough, Lancashire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
There is an article in today's Dail Mail about numbness in the fingers, which I have.
Some pretty good advice in the article I reckon, but the doc says that regarding the HbA1c: "A 'healthy' reading is between 4 to 5.6; above 6.5 confirms diabetes. Your results should always be 7 or less."
Web MD has the same figures but they are higher than I've been lead to believe, unless I'm interpretung them wrong.

Here is the article if you want a look
 

Looks to me like the Daily Fail has conveniently omitted the units!

In the UK, 6.5% (glucose level) is used as the threshold for confirmation of diabetes)

A non-diabetic will be below 5.6% and the area in between will be reserved for pre-diabetics.

Does that answer your question?
 
I too raised this question a while back, as I'd read somewhere that the lower "normal" level was 3.5 to 5 mmol. I can't remember where I saw that but memory usually serves well!

Perhaps it's a matter of what the latest guidelines are. Cynically, I'd expect in England we might see an upward trend in the level where diabetes is officially diagnosed - or the withdrawal of free prescriptions for Type 2 (because it's all our own fault of course).
 

hba1c of 4-5.6% is approximately an average blood glucose level of between 3.8-6.3 mmol/L.

If the hba1c is above 6.5% (~average blood glucose level of 7.8 mmol/L) then they diagnose you with diabetes. In between these levels they classify as pre-diabetic.

In general you should try and stay between 4-7 mmol/L.
 

Yes, thanks
I'm confusing % with mmol/L.
Simple if you have an ounce of wit. Unfortunately I'm stuck on 25 grams.
 
Btw there are other explanations for numb fingers e.g. circulation problems caused by Reynaud's syndrome
 
ps just read the article in the Mail in canteen. Although mistakenly categorising type 2 diet controlled as 'mild' diabetes he does go on to recommend a low carb diet and lower blood sugars. Makes the good point that by the time you are diagnosed you've had metabolic issues for a while hence some damage may have been caused
 
HSSS said:
Bad because you refuse to get sicker and sicker like they expect?
Click to expand...
This was at the appointment when he broke the news that I was diabetic, ten days after he'd phoned to tell me it was just a routine follow up interview. I think he realized that I was not exactly thrilled by his attitude, as he put NFA on my notes after the first retest when I got down to Hba1c of 47.
 
Sorry I thought you meant he’d just said it recently.
 
GRRRR! On your behalf.
 
What does NFA stand for?
 
NicoleC1971 said:
Btw there are other explanations for numb fingers e.g. circulation problems caused by Reynaud's syndrome
Click to expand...

Yes, I've got P.A.D. too but the 'treatment' (not cure) for PAD is basically the same as T2. Sugar management, exercise, no smoking (and vast quantities of red wine taken with a large bowl of salted peanuts and a lamb chop).
 
I did thing of various things NFA might stand for - but I am sure that I'd just get a lecture on statins if I did see him.
Oh - by the way - at my 'education' sessions we were told that diabetes doesn't affect the hands, just the feet and eyes. It is so good to know we have such competent and caring HCPs around here. They would most likely find me so difficult to cope with if I needed treatment for anything.....
 
Not Following Advice? My DN is coldly unimpressed with my fasting shenanigans so I wouldn't be surprised to find that on my notes either.
 
Probably never come across the term systemic in all their long careers in regard to diabetes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…