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HbA1c result - Quite Disappointed

pamK said:
Hi All hope you are all having a good day. Is there a way of telling what your HbA1c) level is or is the only way the six month check up with the DN thanks
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Some BG apps and meters can give you an estimated HbA1c , but it really is just an estimate. The only accurate test is the capillary or venous blood test. My estimated figures are always lower than the actual figures, simply because they are only estimated on my readings and don't take into account the higher levels in between tests. For example, one hour post prandial .

Hope that helps

Signy
 
Just seems that your levels go up quite a bit at lunchtime. Still within the desirable range but if I ate a salad thing at lunch I'd be running in mid 4s by teatime. I do wonder if the level of inflammation is having an effect on your levels, if you are really concerned why not see if GP would refer you to an endocrinologist at the hospital - or even ask your rheumatologist as they might have some advice?
 

Their answer to my Polymyalgia is steroids. As I am due to have major surgery again in three weeks, my surgeon refuses to operate whilst I am on steroids. And, to be quite honest, after 6.5 years on them, I will do anything (including suffering pain) to avoid taking them ever again.
 
I can understand that. In which case I think you may have to settle for levels where you are currently at. Maybe once you get your other knee done you'll be able to add some gentle low impact exercise which would help lower your levels. Alternatively you might be able to persuade your GP to prescribe Metformin although I don't think it is routinely prescribed to prediabetics. That isn't without downsides - I had to stop taking it because of joint and muscle pain.
 
What I find so frustrating is that I was prediabetic for over a year (with a reading of 45) before my new doctor even mentioned about my being prediabetic (then with a reading of 44). So I had dropped a point without even modifying my diet in any way! Been so careful since last October and was really hoping for greater things having cut out carbs. Oh well.

I had very little weight to loose. Can it be that the greater the weightloss, the more improved the HbA1c?
 
When I had my disappointing HbA1c in December I started testing after meals at an hour, 90 minutes and 2 hours, then if still not back down I kept going until I was. I made some very interesting discoveries, such as peaks at 60 or 90 minutes that fell drastically before 2 or 2.5hrs which I hadn't recorded previously to any great extent, and also my breakfast staying level in the high 6's for too long.

For some reason your pre-evening meal is higher than your other levels would indicate. Pre-evening meal readings are normally the lowest of the day, so I am wondering if your lunch is taking too long to come back down? Too much fat at one go? It's only a thought.

All that aside, with your op coming up maybe it would be best to put all this to one side for now and concentrate on getting that knee done?
 
Perhaps I have taken Low Carb/High Fat too literally. Problem is, I lost all the weight I needed or wanted to very quickly and have been eating probably more cream, cheese etc. to maintain my weight. Swings and roundabouts.
 
Dibbles1 said:
That's good @Lynn1 Only 1 point off normal is not to be sneezed at
Mine went up 1 point to 42, but I'm still pleased as punch about it.
You should be too Well done
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But my doctor says we should aim for 40. Perhaps that's why I am despondant?
 
Lynn1 said:
Perhaps I have taken Low Carb/High Fat too literally. Problem is, I lost all the weight I needed or wanted to very quickly and have been eating probably more cream, cheese etc. to maintain my weight. Swings and roundabouts.
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It's a fine balance that is hard to achieve. I have really upped my fats since reaching target weight back in October as I couldn't stop losing, and still haven't got it right.
 
In my view, each of us has a level our bodies will maintain us at, and when we get to that floor it's hard to lower it further. Increasing is clearly a different issue.

Forget it until you've ha your knee done as too many additional factors are about to come into play.

Eat sensibly, test a bit, but concentrate on your op and recovery.
 
Hi lynn

Your inflammation markers jump out at me most .....

Infection raised ESR or CRP which ever is being monitored could indeed be the cause ....

Thinking of you ....kat
 
Kat100 said:
Hi lynn

Your inflammation markers jump out at me most .....

Infection raised ESR or CRP which ever is being monitored could indeed be the cause ....

Thinking of you ....kat
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Thanks Kat. Just having to live with very high ESR. At one time it was as high as 140! The highest my GP had experienced at the surgery. For years I have been told Polymyalgia tends to burn itself out after two years. 7 years later, I'm still waiting!
 
Mine was 44 & well happy with that from the 52 when diagnosed 3 months earlier. Yet my estimated was showing 38 & now conclude as the hba1c is an average over the 3 months prior that we can never get an estimated very close or spot on unless we use a CGM cause we can never be able to record the higher level/spikes all the time which the hba1c does. Even the 1hr test may not show spikes as we could get them 3-4 hrs after eating if the food included higher fat. Well this is the conclusion I have come to after wondering why my hba1c was was so much higher than the estimated .
 
Hi lynn

Not sure it does always burn it's self out ...
But while they are high your markers ...then I do think your readings will be affected ....so in that sense you have managed things really well ....

Look after yourself ..kat
 
Lynn1 said:
Doctor has just phoned with my last test result - 43 - so feeling quite disappointed. Have been keeping such a close eye on my diet. Not close enough, it would seem.
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That actually a very good result, also, bear in mind the result can be out.

Following taken from - http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/A1CTest/

How accurate is the A1C test?
The A1C test result can be up to 0.5 percent higher or lower than the actual percentage. This means an A1C measured as 7.0 percent could indicate a true A1C anywhere in the range from ~6.5 to 7.5 percent. Health care providers can visit www.ngsp.org
to find information about the accuracy of the A1C test used by their laboratory.

The drawing below illustrates the range of possible true values when an A1C is 7.0 percent on the lab report. This range is based on the inherent variability of the laboratory test, often referred to as the coefficient of variation. Different degrees of laboratory variability result in different ranges of possible true values. The range illustrated is the maximum allowed by test methods approved by NGSP.


Courtesy of David Aron, M.D., Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
To put the A1C test into perspective, an FPG test result of 126 mg/dL obtained from a laboratory test accounting for typical variability within an individual person could indicate a true FPG anywhere in the range from ~110 to 142 mg/dL. This variation will be even greater if the blood sample is not processed promptly or is not put on ice, causing blood glucose levels in the sample to decrease. The drawing below illustrates the range of possible true values for an FPG of 126 mg/dL.


Courtesy of David Aron, M.D., Louis Stokes Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
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