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HbA1c result ? is it accurate

wallycorker said:
Hi eggie,

I myself am confused by your posts.

I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes nearly nine years ago with fasting blood glucose levels of just over 7mmol/l - my HbA1c at that time was only 5.7%. Those readings were sufficient to diagnose me as diabetic.

These days I have normalised my blood glucose levels. My fasting blood glucose would definitely never be above 7 mmol/l and is rarely ever above 6 mmol/l - my last HbA1c was 5.3%. With these results my situation would not be found by the usual detection methods - however, I am still diabetic and will be diabetic forever.

In addition, I understand that random non-fasting blood glucose levels over around 11 mmol/l are very indicative of diabetes. Certainly, your reading of 16mmol/l is very high and would fall well into that category.

I don't know whether that helps - hope that it does.

John
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Hi john

Confusion only lies with my GP as he is refusing to acknowledge the fact that i am still diabetic and would like some help to control the problem before it gets out of hand. When first dx done fasting 6.6 , he puts me on Metformin XR 1 or 2 a day depending on how much i eat. Then 2 weeks later a Hba1c done and result 5.2 . He takes me off Metformin saying i am not diabetic. Since being taken off Metformin my BS readings go up, feel ill when BS high, feel nausea, drowsy and very lethargic and get feeling of being high and feel flushed. so made several trips to GP with symptom complaints and telling him of my high BS levels all he says dont test at home. He said very thing is fine and all in your head basically, your getting anxious when hearing the word diabetes. All he is going by is the reading of 5.2.

My fasting was 6.6 and non fasting vary from anything from 8 upwards and the highest 16, the reading of 16 could be down to the large carb intake, i had bowl cornflakes and milk and cup of tea. So cut out all cereals for time being.

thanks
Eggie
 
Eggie.

Do you have another GP in the Practice you could see and voice your concerns ? If not I think it is time to get a referral to an Endocrinologist for some expert attention. If that all fails then look around for a new GP, you cannot mess around with your health like this. It needs a resolution.
 
Hi Eggie,

That does sound all more than a little unusual and needs clarification. As I pointed out in my last post, it is not difficult to fool the system by just going on either fasting blood glucose or HbA1c. I could do that easily these days without the medical people exploring things further by other methods such as a glucose tolerance test.

I can't imagine how you would get a 16 without being diabetic no matter how much of anything that you have eaten. I can understand that it would be quite possible for a diabetic to get that sort of reading by eating a lot of cereal - but still get low fasting blood glucose levels at other times and also to have a low HbA1c. That is where I am at at present. To me, it sounds as though you are a well-controlled Type 2 diabetic.

I agree with Ken - I think that you ought to try another doctor within your practice.

Good luck and best wishes - John
 
hi
thanks cugila and john for your concerns way its looks i think it's time to find another doctor in the practice, but there again we only hve 3 doctors and all are really clueless. I've seen two and both state the same case, nd for the third i think he way past his prime, my elder bro was dx with a fasting BS of 6.9 and all he said was it was fine, go home and restrict your diet. So basically leaves two options go and get a referral to an Endrocologist or change my GP practice, changing GP's is a bit of hit and miss as most GP's are full and then it leaves the question which GP if any is conversant in Diabetes ? not alot around my part of the woods. So the only option is to see an Endrocologist. So will go bck and try to get a referral to an Endo.

By the way are the home Hba1c kits any good to check your Blood count ? as i come across a kit advertised in the UK for 17 pounds. you supply the blood two samples on a card and they test and post the results back. Is it worth re testing ?

Thanks
Eggie
 
Hi eggie.

When you get your referral and see an Endo, ask his/her opinion of which GP's in your area are on the ball with Diabetes. Mine told me point blank which practice and which particular GP to go for. A great help.

As regards HbA1c testing at home, they are supposed to give the same results as a normal lab test but I have never used one so cannot really say. I think they cost about about £17 per test and as I am a tight 'git ' I prefer to let the NHS (ME) pay instead.
 
eggie said:
........my elder bro was dx with a fasting BS of 6.9 and all he said was it was fine, go home and restrict your diet...............
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I'm surprised that your brother was diagnosed at 6.9 fasting. I thought it might have been something daft like "6.9 is not diabetic" and "7.1 is diabetic". However, at that stage, the advice to "go home and restrict your diet" was perhaps very good advice and is also possibly good advice for you too. However, given that low level of problem it is important that people understand the need to be very careful in the long term - also, very important that they get the right advice and aren't told "do not test" and "eat plenty of starchy carbohydrates" like so many of us are.

My HbA1c rose slowly to 9.5% before my GP took action and prescribed metformin.

Have you supported my petition? If not I'd appreciate your support - I want to get things changed.

Best wishes - John
 
Hi all

Thanks Cugila and Wally for the umderstanding and help an advice given to me, i know it's ben along and confusing road so all help appreciated from all and especially you two.

all that leaves now is to wait and see an endo got an appt monday with GP so will ask for referral while i'm there ask to look at my feet as i stated in earlier post got two ingrowing toe nails on both feet sore and painful when knocked. See what he as to say to that as that also a symptom of diabetes. Symptoms see to be coming on now as i drink about 6 to 8 litres of fluid a day, wee abt every half hour or so and during the night get up abt 4 times a night also start getting leg cramps and also cramps of the toes in both feet. Aching thigh muscles at top and also calve muscles.

Cant wait to see what the GP has to say when i tell him all the new symptoms and also sometimes not all of the time burning when weeing , but that seems to subside after abt 10 mins .

Thanks
Eggie
 
Whatever is the case eggie, do not expect the metformin to sort the problem out for you because in my opinion it won't. If you are a Type 2 diet is the best way to sort your problem out. You are fortunate that you have come to understand how to deal with diabetes at this such stage - that isn't the same for everybody.

John
 
Hi John

Thanks for the info , finally got an early appt with GP this time it was a different GP, But the same old story , finally after a discussion, he make to the conclusion that what he could do for or what i wanted him to do, he said at present Metformin was not an option to go back on as he stated " it would artificially lower my BS", so the best way forward was to see a diabetes Specialist at local hospital. I said thats what i wanted all along to get to the bottom of the problem. So finally going to see a specialist, and see what the problem is, maybe as some of the people that posted here said " i might be a well controlled diabetic since my Hba1c was 5.2", the only way to find is wait for the appt.

Will keep you posted on new developments as it might be a while since i get the appt.

Thanks
Eggie
 
Does your practice not use choose and book? I get consultant appointment details when I see the GP or get a list of hospitals and I can then choose the hospital and appointment time myself online.

http://www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/

Regards

Doug
 
Osidge said:
Does your practice not use choose and book? I get consultant appointment details when I see the GP or get a list of hospitals and I can then choose the hospital and appointment time myself online.

http://www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/

Regards

Doug
Click to expand...

hi Doug
Not that i am aware of, all the GP aid was he would refer me to a Diabetes Specialist, he made no mention of the NHS Choose and Book service. I had a look at the website and its excellent at least you can choose where to get seen and you now the waiting times before hand. My GP must behind in times as no choose and book service that i know of.

Thanks for the great info.
Eggie
 
GP's are wack, that's why i only use them when i need changes to my prescription.

Endocrine's are the Don's, they studied harder and got better degrees
 
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