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hbaic test in US

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sheila phelan

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Hi, I had gestational diabetes in Ireland, diet controlled with a hbaic of 5.3. I moved to US last year and my physical this year gives me a hbaic of 5.9. The doctor was unconcerned by this but it is much higher than my doctors in Ireland would have been happy with and that was during pregnancy. Is the test exactly the same on both sides of the Atlantic? Thanks for any info.
 
Hi the test is the same, there may be a slight difference between labs.
The targets for people with T2 vary a bit according to country (and even within)
The US association of endocrinologists says it should be below 6.5%
The US, American Diabetes Asscociation and the European Asscociation for the study of diabetes says below 7%
Diabetes UK says for most people (ie those not at risk of hypos) the target should be 6.5%
So you're well within those targets.

The cut of for a diagnosis of diabetes is also (in both the US and UK) 6.5% or above.
You might like to read this page from Diabetes UK
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our ... diabetes_/
 
Thank you very much. Should I be concerned that it is rising (last year was 5.7)? I had a very strictly controlled diet during pregnancy but have eased off since then. Should pre-diabetics like myself be monitoring daily? It seems like the only way to be sure of staying within good levels. The doctor here said just not to put on weight - is that a good enough indicator? Thanks for any advice. I have an app with an endocrinologist but it is nice to get advice from other folks with the same problem.
 
In the US 6.5 and above is considered diabetic on the a1c. 5.7 is in the pre-diabetic range but make no mistake about it damage is being done to your body, even at 5.7 and unless you take action to keep this under control, you will develop insulin resistance and eventually diabetes. 70% of American adults are now in pre-diabetes with an a1c between 5.0 and 6.9. This is going to break the American medical and insurance systems. The number 1 cause of obesity and type 2 diabetes is grain consumption, especially wheat. Americans are now consuming an average of about a half pound of wheat per person, per day. Obesity and diabetes follows wheat consumption. This is a fact. Wheat is the highest glycemic food we consume other than dried fruit, period.

Good books:
The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hyman, MD
Wheat Belly by William Davis, MD
What Makes Us Fat by Gary Taubes
 
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