HbA1c - how quickly can it change?

[IBEX82]

So little background.. I got my HbA1c down to 58 and this was a requirement for surgery. My surgery was then cancelled due to UK doctors strikes.

My surgery has now been rebooked but I also take steroids. I’ve had to have a higher dose of steroids and in the past two weeks I’ve seen BG readings of between 12-16 - not for the whole day but as daily spikes (ranges 12-16 about 4 hours post steroid.)

As part of my surgical pre op I’ve have to have another HbA1c done and the surgical cut off is 68/69. I am trying to get my sugars under control with a diabetes specialist but it’s proving a challenge.

So worried I’ll be cancelled again… will these two weeks of high numbers have a major impact on my HbA1c?

 

[TriciaWs]

Sorry to hear about the longer wait for surgery - I hope this goes ahead now without issues.
The HbA1c is an average of the past approx 3 months but slightly tilted more in the past few weeks. (Red blood cells usually 'live' up to 3 months and it is the markers on those that the test picks up).

Even so, I found by going low carb my HbA1c had dropped noticeably in the first 3 weeks after diagnosis - and I have lower level steroids for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Can you drop your carbs now? If stress makes it more difficult then try looking for easy low carb treats such as keto mug cake?
But talk to your diabetes specialist about this as your insulin dose may need adjusting.

 

[IBEX82]

Sorry to hear about the longer wait for surgery - I hope this goes ahead now without issues.
The HbA1c is an average of the past approx 3 months but slightly tilted more in the past few weeks. (Red blood cells usually 'live' up to 3 months and it is the markers on those that the test picks up).

Even so, I found by going low carb my HbA1c had dropped noticeably in the first 3 weeks after diagnosis - and I have lower level steroids for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
Can you drop your carbs now? If stress makes it more difficult then try looking for easy low carb treats such as keto mug cake?
But talk to your diabetes specialist about this as your insulin dose may need adjusting.

Thank you so much for the detailed reply.

I am low carb anyway, usually 20g or less. So I don’t think there’s much to trim unless I go carnivore. The recent increase has been due to a higher steroid dose.

It is worrying to find that the last couple of weeks will count for more than the last couple of months with the HbA1c - it needs to be below 68-69 and previously it was 58 so I’m hoping the last couple of weeks doesn’t push it up too high.

I am in the process of having my insulin adjusted and this week so far I’m more toward 8s which is great but I waited two weeks to get an appt which meant I had two weeks of daily spikes, 4 hours post steroid, of between 12-16.

So the damage of those weeks has been done it seems Blood test is on Tuesday so not much to be done to change the outcome now I guess.

 

[ajbod]

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do now, but it's not worth worrying about, as there's nothing you can do to alter things. I would be prepared for the surgery to be cancelled, then it's either what i was expecting, or a happy surprise, but that's just how i am.

 

[IBEX82]

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do now, but it's not worth worrying about, as there's nothing you can do to alter things. I would be prepared for the surgery to be cancelled, then it's either what i was expecting, or a happy surprise, but that's just how i am.

I think that’s the approach I’m going with too. Such a shame as I tried so hard to get it down in the first place.

I guess I’ll have to wait and see

 

[IBEX82]

Well I’m not sure what to make of it all.. but I had the call for my bloods.. 47

I’d had really low numbers prior to the steroid increase spiking so that obviously counted.

From 59 to 47 on steroids seems like a miracle so I’ll stick with it

 

[lovinglife]

Well I’m not sure what to make of it all.. but I had the call for my bloods.. 47

I’d had really low numbers prior to the steroid increase spiking so that obviously counted.

From 59 to 47 on steroids seems like a miracle so I’ll stick with it

Fantastic results well done on your hard work paying off