Can a (current) cold virus affect a LONG-TERM blood glucose reading (mmol / HbA1c)?

[NoSugarBabe]

Will a cold virus affect the reading of LONG-TERM blood glucose? (As I know it can affect an IMMEDIATE BG reading.)

I ask this I am at the end of having a cold virus but am still not completely back to healthy, & it was a nasty virus that lasted a long time (7 days!) in comparison to the usual 3ish days of illness that I tend to get when I have a cold.

I am due at the diabetic hospital specialist next week (a 3-monthly review appointment). I am therefore due, tomorrow, to have the GP surgery's nurse take a blood test, in order to supply this to the diabetic specialist for the appointment next week; i.e. this test will get an up-to-date reading of my long-term mmol (HbA1c).

I am aware that colds & flu & chest infections etc. can - & have, from personal experience! - affected my BG reading of that day, I am therefore wondering if a cold virus might/will affect my LONG-TERM BG reading, and thus effectively "misinform" the specialist as to my actual long-term mmol (HbA1c). I want to make sure the specialist gets an ACCURATE reading of my long-term BG levels (mmol / HbA1c).

So I am now wondering if I should put off this nurse appointment till a non-affected-by-cold-virus reading can be taken.

Does anyone have the facts re this query?!

 

[Enclave]

A good point .. I have no idea .. But hope someone will come along soon with advice

 

[andcol]

Well given that an HbA1c for a person with normally lived blood cells measure the average over the life of the cells (8 to 12 weeks ish) then 1 week will have between 5 and 10 percent increase at worst (ie if you would have had 35 you might get a max of 38) I have also heard that the attachment of the glucose molecules isn't linear and gets more rapid as the cells age and if this is so then the net effect of your cold virus will be even less.

So all in all the impact will be minimal and only worth considering if you are one or two points the wrong side of certain diagnostic points like 42, 48

 

[NoSugarBabe]

Hi Andrew

That's great! EXACTLY the kind of DETAILED help I was looking for!

Re:

So all in all the impact will be minimal and only worth considering if you are one or two points the wrong side of certain diagnostic points like 42, 48

So a cold virus will only have a minimal effect; which is good, as otherwise the appointment for an HbA1c test seems a gross waste of both parties' time! ,-)

Thanks

 

[NoSugarBabe]

Great advice, Dibbles1 - thanks!