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HbA1c

kevkevkev

kevkevkev

Well-Known Member
Messages
107
Location
Peterlee
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
My HbA1c was 57 5 months ago so decided it was time to try LCHF Diet. In the 5 months i have went from 14st 4 to 13st 8 and my HbA1c is now 46. I still eat 4-6 slices of small wholemeal bread and also occasional crisps and curry with wholemeal rice once a week, also about 5 pints of lager every Monday. Was just wondering if 46 is a result to be happy with over a long period of time or if it should be lower?
 
Heya @kevkevkev,

Firstly, I've only been diagnosed for 2-ish weeks, so I'm no expert by any means!

My eyes boggled when I read your numbers until I realised you hadn't converted them yet - HbA1c results are given in a different scale to the way meters measure (think feet and metres):

hba1c-chart.jpg


Roughly speaking, you've gone from around a 9 to around a 7 (please, someone, correct me if I'm wrong!). I've noticed that most folks on the forum, when talking about their numbers and quoting them in their forum sigs and posts give the BG number. It's the one most people who test are most fluent in and the numbers are less giant and scary!

Beyond the conversion chart and a big thumbs up (it's dropped - that's what you're hoping for, after all!) for your reduced BG, I'm afraid I can't be of much help, sorry!
 
I use the same numbers as @kevkevkev. I believe this is the standard way now not the percentage numbers. Again someone correct me, but that is how my medical team report them.
 
Hi @kevkevkev Well done on your HbA1c and weight reductions. You have reduced your blood sugar levels from the diabetic range to the pre-diabetic range.
The diabetic range is 48 HbA1c (IFCC) and over, pre-diabetic is 42-47, and non-diabetic is below 42.
You should try to get your bs figures down to below 42, which you should be able to do by your next HbA1c test.
 
Thanks for all your comments, much appreciated. Waiting for Cholesterol results next week. I requested a test as my Brother did the LCHF and his Cholesterol shot up to 8.1, so slightly concerned.
 
When you get the cholesterol results, ask for the breakdown.
The figures for HDL, LDL and triglycerides, as those and their ratios to each other are more relevant than the total cholesterol figure.
 
kevkevkev said:
My HbA1c was 57 5 months ago so decided it was time to try LCHF Diet. In the 5 months i have went from 14st 4 to 13st 8 and my HbA1c is now 46. I still eat 4-6 slices of small wholemeal bread and also occasional crisps and curry with wholemeal rice once a week, also about 5 pints of lager every Monday. Was just wondering if 46 is a result to be happy with over a long period of time or if it should be lower?
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I suggest trying Burgen Soya and Linseed bread, it has less effect on BG than most bread and tastes much better than most wholemeal bread in my opinion. You can get a small version if you like small slices. I am the last person to be able to criticise someones beer drinking but 5 pints of lager is a lot at one time if you are trying to keep to low carb - have you measured your BG after the beer?
 
It goes up but stays below 10, I enjoy going out with my mates so i'm satisfied with that. Diabetes insists you give up so much, got to have a bit of fun (within reason).
 
Well done on the latest HbA1c. :)

As others have said, it is within the pre-diabetic range. It equates to an average of 7.6mmol/l as per the units shown on our meters, so it could do with coming down a bit more, but definitely in the right direction.

Do get a print out of your cholesterol results - it is important to know the full breakdown.
 
Bluetit1802 said:
Well done on the latest HbA1c. :)

As others have said, it is within the pre-diabetic range. It equates to an average of 7.6mmol/l as per the units shown on our meters, so it could do with coming down a bit more, but definitely in the right direction.

Do get a print out of your cholesterol results - it is important to know the full breakdown.
Click to expand...
I don't understand the breakdown I just know that I should be aiming for about 4 (total)
 
kevkevkev said:
I don't understand the breakdown I just know that I should be aiming for about 4 (total)
Click to expand...

The following should help:


Blood fats (lipids)

Lipids are the cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol is a type of fat found in all of us. You may be familiar with the term blood cholesterol, but what you may not know is that not all cholesterol is bad. Some of it, HDL (high density lipoprotein), can actually protect against heart disease. Low levels of this protective HDL cholesterol increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the bad form of cholesterol in the blood. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood. If you have raised cholesterol and raised triglycerides you have an increased risk of CVD.

  • Your total cholesterol level should be below 4.0mmol/l.
  • LDL levels should be less than 2.0mmol/l.
  • HDL levels should be 1.0mmol/l or above in men and 1.2mmol/l or above in women.
  • Triglyceride levels should be 1.7mmol/l or less.
If you do not know your lipid levels, ask your healthcare team to arrange a simple blood test for you.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Managing-your-diabetes/Testing/
 
noblehead said:
The following should help:


Blood fats (lipids)

Lipids are the cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol is a type of fat found in all of us. You may be familiar with the term blood cholesterol, but what you may not know is that not all cholesterol is bad. Some of it, HDL (high density lipoprotein), can actually protect against heart disease. Low levels of this protective HDL cholesterol increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the bad form of cholesterol in the blood. Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood. If you have raised cholesterol and raised triglycerides you have an increased risk of CVD.

  • Your total cholesterol level should be below 4.0mmol/l.
  • LDL levels should be less than 2.0mmol/l.
  • HDL levels should be 1.0mmol/l or above in men and 1.2mmol/l or above in women.
  • Triglyceride levels should be 1.7mmol/l or less.
If you do not know your lipid levels, ask your healthcare team to arrange a simple blood test for you.

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Managing-your-diabetes/Testing/
Click to expand...
Thank you very helpful. Will copy this info and keep it for reference when i get my results
 
kevkevkev said:
Thank you very helpful. Will copy this info and keep it for reference when i get my results
Click to expand...

Bear in mind that these standard levels can be turned into ratios, and it is these ratios that matter most.
Total/HDL under 4
Triglycerides/HDL about 0.87
Non-HDL under 3.4.

The total on its own is meaningless as it is made up of all the good cholesterol as well as the not so good.
A high HDL and low Triglycerides are the main ones to aim for.
 
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