Everything You Want To Know About Hba1c But Were Afraid To Ask

Thank you for posting this

Thank you DavidGrahamJones

Thank you.
Very useful!

I noted this "If your Red Blood Cells live longer than 90 days or your RBCs are smaller (as measured by MCV in blood test), then your HbA1C will be artificially higher."

Leaves me wondering is the coverse true that is with a raised MCV as mine is then is it more likely for you to have an artificially lower HbA1c.

Particularly interested in the association with hearing loss. Interesting stuff, thank you.

Really interesting. I have long suspected some sort of link between osteoporosis and T2 diabetes. This is the first time that I have seen an explanation. Thanks for posting the link.

DavidGrahamJones said:

I might have been a bit OTT with the subject title. I also expect there are many who know quite a lot about the HbA1c. I didn't and I'm always happy learning something every day. I found this particular page on the WWW easy to read and very informative. So this is a FYI type of message.

https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hba1c-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/

This is part 1 and there is a link to part 2 within the text. There are some references for some of the statements.

Click to expand...

****! Read it and could not find any excuses for my batting average of 7.5% but thanks for the interesting link to this bio-hacker site. I agree with Ivor Cummins that those on the road to diabetes could be reliably diagnosed with insulin tests prior to the HBa1C/0gtt.

Edited by moderator for language

Very interesting.

It included everything I ever wanted to know about HbA1c, plus some stuff I've never wanted to know as well

Forgot to say thanks for posting was a very interesting read may well even go back to it and read it again this time properly.

DavidGrahamJones said:

I might have been a bit OTT with the subject title. I also expect there are many who know quite a lot about the HbA1c. I didn't and I'm always happy learning something every day. I found this particular page on the WWW easy to read and very informative. So this is a FYI type of message.

https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hba1c-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/

This is part 1 and there is a link to part 2 within the text. There are some references for some of the statements.

Click to expand...

Re link rather confused?? the link states indicates

Normal Range for HbA1c
In healthy people, HbA1c values range between 4.0% and 5.6% (R).

People with HbA1c values of 5.7–6.4% (39–46 mmol/mol) be considered high risks for diabetes (R).

Values ≥ 6.5% may indicate diabetes (R).

I was under the impression, A1C values, I may be wrong, please inform if this is the case...

UK. Below 6% is normal. 6% to 6.4% pre diabetes range and over 6.5% diabetes range? this contradicts the link info?
Spain Below 6% normal, rest same as UK
Canada below 6% normal
NZealand equal to 6.7% or above suggests Diabetes two tests and patient having symptoms

Do I presume the value of 5.7% is American values????

DavidGrahamJones said:

I might have been a bit OTT with the subject title. I also expect there are many who know quite a lot about the HbA1c. I didn't and I'm always happy learning something every day. I found this particular page on the WWW easy to read and very informative. So this is a FYI type of message.

https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/hba1c-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-important/

This is part 1 and there is a link to part 2 within the text. There are some references for some of the statements.

Click to expand...

Here is the info although just a general guide as it states, UK A1C values levels and compare them to that noted on the above link are different.

An individual HbA1c should take into account your ability to achieve the target based on your day to day life and whether you are at risk of having regular or severe hypos.

HbA1c in diagnosis
HbA1c can indicate people with prediabetes or diabetes as follows:

HbA1c mmol/mol %
Normal Below 42 mmol/mol Below 6.0%
Prediabetes 42 to 47 mmol/mol 6.0% to 6.4%
Diabetes 48 mmol/mol or over 6.5% or over

Even if both are a simple general guide, leaves big ? which is the correct 100% value for A1C based on general guide?

Why is UK, Spain, Canada stating below 6% is normal range, yet the link info shows different?

Confusion continues? surely we deserve better guides from the Diabetes Industry instead of saying, this number, may be diabetes, indicates diabetes, could mean diabetes, why not make it clear. This value representes 100% by clinical and medical proof of evidence you are pre diabetic, normal or pre diabetic, instead of leaving a void space.....obviously someone is covering their backs as I read through the lines. You are either normal, pre or diabetic, and values should not be hoovering on what May be, indications or yes or no or am I missing something here?

DavidGrahamJones said:

The reference is from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.



Countries of the world do not act as a single entity in most things. An example would be the recommended daily portions of fruit and veg which varies from country to country. The UK "Eatwell plate" isn't a universal guideline. Although slightly off topic and more to do with nutritional recommendations of different countries, this is interesting and laughable in places. https://www.vox.com/2015/12/15/10220358/food-guidelines-around-the-world.

Click to expand...

Thank you for confirming reference from US., that as my concern, as the so called experts ADA American Diabetes Association cannot even agree with its own Diabetes specialists regards values of what should be, and in turn, due to this appalling situation between themselves as it seems, they put their issues aside, and instead, leave it up to the patients doctor to decide! i.e. either the Doctor will recommend what the ADA feels is diagnosing values, or its diabetes experts, now that is frightening. Thanks for the info always of interest, whether one agrees or disagrees,its more tool to add to anyones info box at the end of the day.