hbA1c results, and some advice?

[Robbity]

I saw my general GP for my 6 monthly medication checkup last week, and he told me he is now also dealing with my diabetes checks, etc, too as they've change the practice procedures, and no longer use a practice diabetes doctor. He was actually pleased with my current state, and was interested in my testing, unfortunately I didn't have my meter with me so we couldn't look at readings, so he got some off the top of my head figures.

So - no requests to stop testing, and no objections to low carb diet (though he's the one who suggested the Atkins version in the first place - so no surprise there... ) I also joked with him that I was predicting my HbA1c results and he made a note that I thought they'd be between 40 and 42 (which I've based on my previous results and the predictions from the Diabetes UK converter).

I told him the diabetes doc had agreed to reduce statins from 40mg to 20, and that I wasn't always taking them, and he agreed to review the situation after seeing my test results.

I got a printout of my results yesterday, my HbA1c is up is a bit at 43, which I'm not entirely unhappy with... But out of a page full of other blood results they don't list LDL or tryglicerides, so I'm a little ****** off, as I'd hoped for some ammunition for a battle of the statins. I get cholersterol as 4.1, HDL as 1.91, and total cholersterol:HDL ration as 2.15 - I'm not actually sure what this one is?? I believe you can do calculations to find LDL, but as far as I can find via Google, you need triglycderides to do this? Any suggestions appreciated.

Robbity

 

[satindoll]

http://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php You could try this calculator, it may or may not work.

 

[Oldman1952]

I saw my general GP for my 6 monthly medication checkup last week, and he told me he is now also dealing with my diabetes checks, etc, too as they've change the practice procedures, and no longer use a practice diabetes doctor. He was actually pleased with my current state, and was interested in my testing, unfortunately I didn't have my meter with me so we couldn't look at readings, so he got some off the top of my head figures.

So - no requests to stop testing, and no objections to low carb diet (though he's the one who suggested the Atkins version in the first place - so no surprise there... ) I also joked with him that I was predicting my HbA1c results and he made a note that I thought they'd be between 40 and 42 (which I've based on my previous results and the predictions from the Diabetes UK converter).

I told him the diabetes doc had agreed to reduce statins from 40mg to 20, and that I wasn't always taking them, and he agreed to review the situation after seeing my test results.

I got a printout of my results yesterday, my HbA1c is up is a bit at 43, which I'm not entirely unhappy with... But out of a page full of other blood results they don't list LDL or tryglicerides, so I'm a little ****** off, as I'd hoped for some ammunition for a battle of the statins. I get cholersterol as 4.1, HDL as 1.91, and total cholersterol:HDL ration as 2.15 - I'm not actually sure what this one is?? I believe you can do calculations to find LDL, but as far as I can find via Google, you need triglycderides to do this? Any suggestions appreciated.

Robbity

Hi Robbity, I wish I had an HbA1c of 41. I would be very happy. Mine went up to 65 when I was first diagnosed with type II. I got it down to 46 after about 6 months but just lately it has risen to 52 but I am only on 500mg Metformin, exercise and diet. An HbA1c in the 40's is good. You are obviously doing the right things. so carry on. I've just been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Am now waiting to see the cardiologist Take care and don't worry too much.

 

[Totto]

@Robbity with HDL at 1.91 I don't think you have anything to worry about in the cholesterol department but I agree you need to know the other readings anyway, at least to know your LDL doesn't get too low as you are on statins.

 

[ButtterflyLady]

You might want to ask for the full lipid results to be provided, or to have another blood test done.

 

[Robbity]

http://www.hughcalc.org/chol-si.php You could try this calculator, it may or may not work.

Thanks I've seen that one, but it requires 3 figure to work and I only have two! I did try it and it just gave me the values I already have - but it did like my figures!

@Robbity with HDL at 1.91 I don't think you have anything to worry about in the cholesterol department but I agree you need to know the other readings anyway, at least to know your LDL doesn't get too low as you are on statins.

Yes that in part is what I'm concerned about as total cholesterol did go very low (2.7) and someone on the forum did actually warn me about this at the time, but his attitude is that "you can't go too low"! I'm about to make another appointment, so I hope he'll arrange for another test.

Robbity

 

[Robbity]

Hi Robbity, I wish I had an HbA1c of 41. I would be very happy. Mine went up to 65 when I was first diagnosed with type II. I got it down to 46 after about 6 months but just lately it has risen to 52 but I am only on 500mg Metformin, exercise and diet. An HbA1c in the 40's is good. You are obviously doing the right things. so carry on. I've just been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Am now waiting to see the cardiologist Take care and don't worry too much.

@Oldman1952 Thanks - and I hope the cardiologist will get you sorted! I know it's not quite the same but I've had a couple of dogs with chronic heart failure, and it's certainly not very pleasant!

I started off with glucose in the low 60s, but getting my levels down is essentially due to a going a long term pretty low carb diet, so it's definitely worth a try if you're not on one already.

Robbity

 

[Bluetit1802]

I'd say well done. You are still in the low 40's.
The TC/HDL ratio should be under 4, so you have nothing to worry about, but I would still ask for a full lipids test as the trigs are important.
And yes, cholesterol can be too low. It should be above 3. The NHS likes us diabetics to be under 4, but most of the experts think this is nonsense, especially for females. Mine has been mid 5's for a long time, but as my ratios and trigs are good, I'm not worried.

 

[Totto]

Thanks I've seen that one, but it requires 3 figure to work and I only have two! I did try it and it just gave me the values I already have - but it did like my figures!

Yes that in part is what I'm concerned about as total cholesterol did go very low (2.7) and someone on the forum did actually warn me about this at the time, but his attitude is that "you can't go too low"! I'm about to make another appointment, so I hope he'll arrange for another test.

Robbity

Of course you can have too low cholesterol, if you are on statins. I've been told women, particularly middle aged and older, shouldn't have too low cholesterol. And that the statin research was mainly done with male cohorts so it lacks evidence that statins are of benefit for women.

 

[Yorksman]

You are obviously doing the right things. so carry on. I've just been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Am now waiting to see the cardiologist Take care and don't worry too much.

I was diganosed with dilated cardiomyopathy with a severe ventricular dysfunction in 2002. They told me they could control it but it wasn't curable. To everyone's suprise, it returned to normal in 18 months. 'We don't normally see this' was the official line.

Well it came back in 2015 but this time it wasn't due to high blood pressure but due to atrial flutter which is unpleasant but relatively benign, I reacted to the drug which I was given to control the heart rate. I ended up in venticular tachycardia and had to be cardioverted out of it. VT has a high risk of sudden cardiac arrest. I now have one of those natty little implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Now that I am exercising more and am a different drug, I am feeling very much better. The ICD is there as as a safety device. I hope it never has to do the business. However, I found this video of a soccer player who collapsed during a match and his ICD fired him back up. He even wanted to continue playing.

Keep your chin up. It's not all over until the batteries run out