Anaemia and HbA1c

Hi

I was diagnosed about a month ago, along with a diagnosis of severe iron deficient anaemia. I had a very high HbA1c of 76. Very brief consultation with a diabetic nurse, which was along the lines of take metformin and have bloods tested in 3 months. Despite being told not to test blood glucose, I have been, and testing seems quite reasonable, on average just under 5 on waking to a max of 7 after meals. I have been following a lowish carb diet, as need to shift some weight.

It just seems that I would have expected my blood glucose level to have been worse, given that my HbA1c was so high at 76, and I have read some info that suggests that the HbA1c level can be artificially inflated by severe anaemia? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Thanks

 

My blood glucose on waking is generally between 4.8 and 5, which I thought was ok. I don’t know what it was before starting metformin, as I started immediately as I was so worried by the HbA1c of 76. The weight is a long long term problem, so not a symptom of T2, more the cause. I do think I’m in the diabetic range, but I do wonder if my HbA1c should be lower, and I could manage with my lowish carb diet alone. I guess I’ll wait until the 3 months, keep on the metformin, as it’s really killing my appetite, so silver linings I guess, which means I’m down a stone in a month.