HBA1C normal but finger pricks high

[Sunflower777]

Hi there. I wonder if anyone can help with my query. I've been checking my blood sugar via finger prick for 2 months after several months of feeling general weary, tingling in calves & feet and feeling exhausted after eating carbs and some blurred distance vision.

My morning fasting numbers are never under 6.8 and often around 7.5. 2 hours after eating I'm often over 10 and been 13.5 on a few occasions. Before bedtime is around 8. I've just had an Hba1c done with result of 37. I know this is a good number. However I can't understand how this is can be correct with my average finger prick tests being high.
Would a cgm be a good idea?
Many thanks.

 

[searley]

A cgm will do nothing in getting you diagnosed as that’s all based on the hbac.. but it will give you a picture of what’s happening in between the odd blood test you are doing my guess is that you’ll be lower between meal during the day.. and overnight keeping the hbac down

 

[Antje77]

Hi there. I wonder if anyone can help with my query. I've been checking my blood sugar via finger prick for 2 months after several months of feeling general weary, tingling in calves & feet and feeling exhausted after eating carbs and some blurred distance vision.

My morning fasting numbers are never under 6.8 and often around 7.5. 2 hours after eating I'm often over 10 and been 13.5 on a few occasions. Before bedtime is around 8. I've just had an Hba1c done with result of 37. I know this is a good number. However I can't understand how this is can be correct with my average finger prick tests being high.
Would a cgm be a good idea?
Many thanks.

Hi @Sunflower777 , welcome to the forum.

Your hba1c of 37 corresponds with an average blood glucose of around 6.2, which is possible with your numbers if you're missing lower readings.
There are also some conditions that can skew hba1c results. In those cases, often a fructosamine test is used instead of a hba1c.

 

[Sunflower777]

That's interesting, thank you. I've been doing several tests per day and have never seen any number under 6.5. Do you know if you can get a GP to carry out a fructosamine test?

 

[Antje77]

That's interesting, thank you. I've been doing several tests per day and have never seen any number under 6.5. Do you know if you can get a GP to carry out a fructosamine test?

I'm not sure, I'm not in the UK.
But a fructosamine test is often used in diabetics who are pregnant because it covers a shorter period of time than an hba1c and pregnancy can cause wild changes. So I suppose it's not a very uncommon test to ask for.

 

[Lamont D]

Hi @Sunflower777 ,
Welcome to the forum.
If you are using finger prick testing, the best way to use it is to concentrate on pre meal and two hours after.
Your hba1c is good.
So, when you eat, you see different higher readings than your hba1c.

For example, pre meal is around 6.0mmols
If your post meal reading at two hours is below 8mmols, then that meal is fine to eat again.
If your post meal reading at two hours is higher than 8mmols, then something in that meal is causing this.

I would record these readings in a food diary.
It will be quite informative.

Come back at tell us what is happening.

And, yes, a CGM is always useful.