HBA1c, decimal or " old money"

Neicy0412

Well-Known Member
Messages
166
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Just curious looking through many posts there seems to be an obsession with converting HBA1c results from the new measure to the old, why? The new measure is an honest account of how much glucose has "stuck" to red blood cells over a 3 month period, it is the measure used by our Doctors, DSNs, Hospitals and clinics why convert it back to an old measure, that's like going in Sainsburys and trying to pay in shillings and pence. Shouldn't we as a group of people sharing a condition move forward and celebrate the measure used by our healthcare professionals.
 

kentish maid

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
people who tell me I don't need to test my blood
i quite agree with you
 

AMBrennan

Well-Known Member
Messages
826
The new measure is an honest account of how much glucose has "stuck" to red blood cells over a 3 month period
What are you talking about? Do you think that the "meter" is a more honest account of length than "yard" too?
Shouldn't we as a group of people sharing a condition [...] celebrate the measure used by our healthcare professionals.
What does that even mean?
that's like going in Sainsburys and trying to pay in shillings and pence
No, it would be like going mentally converting all prices back to shillings to decide what's good value for money - which is exactly what happened when the Euro was introduced btw.

It's a simple matter of inertia - if you have had diabetes for years then you may want to stick to the units that you are familiar with. Why change?
 

libra

Newbie
Messages
1
Dislikes
the way society sometimes treats vulnerable people, Offal, stray cats who poo' in my garden!
Hello,

This is my first post. I hope it is not too long?

My latest 3 readings for Hba1c in 2012, Feb, June,Sept., were respectively 59, 62, 59. Not too good, I'm afraid, but fairly consistent.
I am female, 5'4",age 75, (I received my free tv licence last Oct!) BMI 24.1, weight 62.6kgs, bp 118/70, bl chol 4.0, fairly active, 1 each week of acquarobics, taichi, social swimming, walking 2 miles, volunteering in a busy tearoom. Diet reasonable, not much meat plenty veg and fruit, lots of water, weaning myself off too much bread and bagels.

I had a stroke in 2006 and during investigation Diabetes type2 was diagnosed accompanied by slight glaucoma, chronic kidney disease stage 3, and acute anxiety/depression which I attributed to stress looking after my loved husband who died a few months later, but I have been told it also comes with diabetes2 (is this usual?). I have been told that the diabetes is probably a genetic result of having an Armenian great grandmother, as most direct descendents have type2 as well.

Today I awoke trembling like a leaf, ok an hour later after eating my cereal. Eyesight blurs after about mid-day throughout this winter, preventing me driving at night. Apart from that I feel great and have great friends who helped me through my grief in earlier days and who all have their own problems. We mention our health briefly when we meet, but on the whole music, sport on tv, literature, and family, features much larger in our conversations. The social swimming is great - the others bring home-made cake for the get-together after swimming and I take an apple, but the companionship is what keeps me alive!

I am on 2xmetformin500 daily with evening meal, clopidogrel to prevent stroke, Paroxetine for depression simvastatin for cholesterol, quinine for cramps.

What does the legend 'eating to my meter' mean? My health nurse and doctor don't want me to monitor myself daily, although sometimes I think it would help me understand a bit more what is happening to me!

Libra (can always see both sides of the argument!)
 

Sarah69

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,494
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Anything healthy!
I like the old reading, it's what I've known since I've had diabetes. I don't know why it had to change? I like to know my height in feet and inches and my weight in stones and pounds. It's a bit like things changing name but is still the same product such as jif I won't call it cif!
 

CollieBoy

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,974
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Hi carb Foods
Well,
I am reasonably comfortable in converting units around, being a frequenter of fora on both sides of the pond but what scared the ejayzus out of me was my nephrologist, younger than me, refusing to give me my HbA1c as it was in the new units and it was "very complicated and hard to understand" :shock: :shock:
Solution:
I now get my figures beforehand and find an obscure point or research principle and quiz her on it :twisted: :twisted:
That way she will not get the chance to forget that patients can think too :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Still prefer my Hba1c in 'old money' (%) as old habits die hard, I figure after 30 years I'll always convert back :D
 

SamJB

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,857
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Yeah I still prefer the old units too. Off the top of my head I think below 50 in new units is in the 6%s.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
Me too. I'm lucky as it hasn't changed here yet. No idea if it will. My last was 5.4.
 

Faith*

Well-Known Member
Messages
302
Dislikes
Arrogant/unhelpful people. Spiders/bugs basically anything with 6-8 legs. Creeps me out.
Hate mud unless I'm camping oddly
Agreed I prefer the old % figures. Every time I go and I see the new numbers I haven't a clue. I've only memorised 57 = 7.4% because that's what I'm currently at! There evil!!
 

Nike69

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
I am seriously confused. My diabetic nurse and some women who did the "obligatory" diabetic training said that you need to be mid 50's . As I was 125 I was a long way out. How do I work out a %