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Guidelines for frequency of HbA1c tests

slip said:
Twin Older bro strikes again!:wacky: Lol At least I got quite some notice that my June appointment was being rescheduled to July - got a letter about 2 months ago about that one (perhaps there's some convention they're all going to?!). Anyway since it was suppose to be a 6 month checkup as oppose to my normal yearly it makes no difference to me either (hba1c had crept up a bit hence the 6 months).
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Hey bro!!!!! Seems they've got it in for us. Do you think we've done something to p*ss them off?:)
At least we get a chance to be extra good in the hope of a better "MOT "
 
Mine were 3 months initially then 6 months but once I was consistently under 48 (no meds) I was supposed to be moved to annually. I told my nurse I would like to remain 6 monthly because I was interested in the lipid panel, liver & kidney functions and full blood count. I said she could leave out the HbA1c.

That was 2 years ago and I still get the whole lot 6 monthly but just see the nurse annually. That suits me fine.

The HbA1c is irrelevant to me. I prefer to check my variances, which the A1c doesn't do.
 
From what I have read the HBA1C test measures the amount of sugar which sticks to proteins inside the red blood cell over its lifetime, Red blood cells live about 100 days on average and are then chewed by the spleen and the products recycled.
So at blood test time there will be a range of blood cells from say 1 day old to 100 days old. (And note that 100 days is about 3 months). So I assume they measure the content of sugar attached to the blood cells, add X , multiply by Y and come up with a result for the variation of blood sugar levels over the past 100 days. Of course the result will be an average of sorts as not all the blood cells are 100 days old at measurement of your blood and indeed I have seen diabetes experts show CGM type reports of patients with blood sugars up and down but which correspond to HBA1Cs of around 7.
As one of my fellow Aussies said, we are allowed 4 per year here. That makes sense because taking HBA1C;s more often will only show partial trends and increases blood testing expenses for little gain. If every one could afford and tolerate it, CGM with ways to intervene and alter blood sugars more often may be the ideal . But the pundits are going to argue about the expense and naturally I and I am sure many other diabetics would be driven nuts by so much intervention and hassle. Here in Oz TIDs under 21 on pumps are given rebates for CGM devices to better help them control sugar levels.Amazingly pregnant type 1 get zilch rebates for CGM in Oz.. Anyway, me being TID on a pump my specialist opts for 3 monthly HBAIC readings. He tells me that persons who are stable as T2D he usually orders HBA1C 6 monthly as he knows that eventually they will need increased therapy over time so the HBA1C is the best overall measure for stability and change in stability.
 
Resurgam said:
I have only had three Hba1c tests, one to diagnose one at 80 days and one at 6 months - and that was a year ago.
I did give up the medication and I did get down to 41 last time - but I do feel a little ignored.
With another test at a year from diagnosis I would be far more confident about my ability to maintain normal results.
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Same with me so I don't think it's to do with types of diabetes.
 
kitedoc said:
an average of sorts as not all the blood cells are 100 days old at measurement of your blood and in
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And many have RBC that are over 100 days old, and the older they are, the less new ones develop or things would get overcrowded, so the HbA1c is over estimated in these cases. Since the advent of CGMs it is becoming clear that the HbA1c is not as reliable as was first thought.
 
dbr10 said:
I'd actually agreed 6 monthly with the doctor I see most frequently; but I'm not able to get an appointment to see her.
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You could try phoning the surgery and leaving a message for the GP - asking for a 6 monthly HbA1c. My GP is brilliant and agrees that I can have 3 monthly as it helps with my control.
 
I seem to remember that a couple of years ago when I was diagnosed the NHS website said that T2s should at least be tested annually, which is what I got.
But looking at the official NHS website now it say every 6 months if the condition has been stabilised. I'll have to ask at my surgery about this.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/going-regular-check-ups/

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archersuz said:
You could try phoning the surgery and leaving a message for the GP - asking for a 6 monthly HbA1c. My GP is brilliant and agrees that I can have 3 monthly as it helps with my control.
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I've made a GP appointment. I'll see how I got on.
 
My doc does them every 6 mo. That’s probably all the insurance will pay. If I want extra, I can order and pay for them myself. I’m in the US and these tests are relatively cheap.
 
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