HbA1c Levels

[bazcom]

Morning,

I'm new to T2 and posted yesterday about fogginess and keto-flu. Really pleased to say that last night and this morning, the fog has lifted and I almost feel like myself again for the first time in several weeks. I'm even going to try going back to work tomorrow. It took about 7 days to go away - exercise definitely helped.

My question is around HbA1c levels ... since starting the controlled intake of food, I have managed to control my BG within normal healthy limits since day 2. I have been eating a reduced calorie (about 1700) and reduced carb diet (about 80g). I've been strict at monitoring and measured several times during the night to ensure no hidden highs or lows while sleeping - and so far so good.

When my first blood test was taken, my HbA1c was 56. Since then, my average BG throughout all this has been 6.1 and the logging software is predicting a HbA1c of 37 at present. Does this mean that if my BG readings were to continue as they are for 6 weeks (by which time all the red blood cells are swapped out) that my HbA1C levels could be much reduced (assuming the logging software is accurate of course)?

I ask the question because the diagnosis could have serious repercussion on my job. Whilst I'm quite prepared to accept that I have T2, a pre-diabetes diagnosis would be much better from my work medical point of view.

The GP is sending me back for a second round of bloods to confirm the diagnosis just 2 weeks after the first bloods. Given that I'm feeling well and my BGs are good, should I be pushing to hold off on that 'confirmation' blood test?

Any advice appreciated ...

Barry

 

[Indy51]

I'll be brave and suggest that yes, you'll have a vastly reduced A1c at your next test because that's a fairly typical result. It happened that way for me and many others on this forum.

Unless you have some issue with your haemoglobin (there are some conditions that affect the speed of red blood cell turnover), all should be improved

 

[bazcom]

Thanks Indy51,

Regardless of the result, this has completely scared the watsit out of me, so will be continuing exercise and diet as a T2 for the foreseeable future and until my ass gets a lot smaller.
My job has an operational aspect that requires a certified medical certificate which requires very regular testing in the workplace (every 20 minutes in some circumstances) and submission of data to a regulator. I'd really like to stay away from that if possible.

Did you end up with a T2 or pre-d diagnosis?

 

[Indy51]

Type 2 - I'd had 2x previous pre-diabetes diagnoses when I gained weight after quitting smoking - this time both the quitting and the diagnosis stuck.

Based on Fasting BG and A1c I would have been still pre-diabetic, but the OGTT gave the real picture (as my post prandial readings after more than 30g of carbs still do).

 

[Prem51]

When my first blood test was taken, my HbA1c was 56. Since then, my average BG throughout all this has been 6.1 and the logging software is predicting a HbA1c of 37 at present. Does this mean that if my BG readings were to continue as they are for 6 weeks (by which time all the red blood cells are swapped out) that my HbA1C levels could be much reduced (assuming the logging software is accurate of course)?

I ask the question because the diagnosis could have serious repercussion on my job. Whilst I'm quite prepared to accept that I have T2, a pre-diabetes diagnosis would be much better from my work medical point of view.

The GP is sending me back for a second round of bloods to confirm the diagnosis just 2 weeks after the first bloods. Given that I'm feeling well and my BGs are good, should I be pushing to hold off on that 'confirmation' blood test?

Any advice appreciated ...

I believe it takes 8-12 weeks for your red blood cells to be replaced, not 6 weeks. If you are concerned about that a T2 diagnosis is going to have work repercussions it would be best to delay your HbA1c test for as long as you can to give your Low Carb diet to take full effect.