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Hba1c Testing

S

SarahK

Member
Messages
8
Location
Manchester
Hello all,

I've been diagnosed T2 since mid-March and was immediately sent for a full rack of tests, including Hba1c - my next one is due this week.

However, my mum, diagnosed with T2 about 5 years ago, has never heard of the Hba1c - from her description it sounds as if she only ever gets sent for a fasting glucose test once a year. She's on metformin and doesn't think that the dose has ever been changed. Is it possible to monitor diabetes without the Hba1c test? Everything I've read seems to indicate that that's the only way to do it properly.

I live in Manchester and my mum is in Banbury so it's possible that the NHS healthcare is different depending on the PCT that we're in.

Thanks

Sarah
 
Hello SarahK,

A Hba1c test gives the best view of long term control.
On top of this, daily finger prick tests will help you to make the adjustments you need to
make (to diet, exercise and medication) in order to get your Hba1c average down.

:arrow: Hba1c INFO

Regards,
timo.
 
I think the hbaic is tested everywhere. Perhaps she gets it done at the same time as her fasting bloods. Some people call it glycosylated haemoglobin. It could be worth asking her to ask her doc/ nurse. GPs are being indirectly paid to test it via the QOF scheme.
 
HbA1c can be called several different things. Americans usually call it HbgA1c, it's full name is glycosylated alpha-1 haemaglobin, but sometimes that is abbreviated to glycosylated haemaglobin or glycosylated alpha-1 or just A1c. They are all the same thing.

I am pretty certain that your mothers will be done as a part of the annual fasting test. GPs always send these samples away to a lab and get back a whole array of results. These results are automatically generated by machines, so the extra cost of each test is quite small. HbA1c is not the only way of monitoring diabetes control, but it is probably the best and the one favoured by medics. I would certainly hope that if there were major problems her GP would have done something, but it doesn't do any harm to ask - it is something she should know.
 
Thanks all - I was amazed that Mum had never heard of the test but it could be that they use another name or just haven't given her the results. :shock: She monitors once a day in the morning using her own meter but you'd think in 5 years that somebody would have referred to Hba1c!

I'll ask her to ring her GP to find out. This forum is fantastic - I've learnt so much!
 
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