• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Help with hba1c

N

ness1982

Newbie
Messages
4
Hiya everyone, I'm new here and looking forward to sharing experiences with you all. I had very bad GD with my 18 month old (thought to be GD at the time) and I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant again. My fasting and after breakfast levels started to raise slightly at around 8 weeks and I've been on insulin since I was 11 weeks. The consultant sent me to have a hba1c test at the same time as giving me my prescription as he said it's a bit early for it to be GD and that he thinks I may be type 2. Well this came back at 45 (6.3) which is high but not high enough to diagnose type 2. He said for the pregnancy we're carrying on as we normally would and we would have a clearer picture after the baby is born. He still thinks I may be type 2 but well controlled (or have impared glucose at the very least). The thing is, my sister had a hba1c a few months ago which came back as 50 and her GP has said that's normal and nothing to worry about. This has me very confused as I was told by my consultant that I would have been diagnosed as type 2 if mine had been over 48. I asked her to double check with her GP and she had another one call her and tell her it's normal and that I've made her into a paranoid patient. I suppose I'm just wondering why my number means possible type 2, yet although higher, she's been given the all clear? I'm more than happy to go along with consultant though as don't want to take any risks to mine or bubbas health if there's even a chance I'm type 2.... This whole thing has just confused me. Sorry for long post xx
 
Well, if your sister is getting 50 and she is eating whatever she fancies she is OK - but a bit high, and should probably take care to eat healthy.
If you are getting 45 and using insulin and being careful what you eat then you are a well contolled diabetic.
The difference is in your relative lifestyles.
 
Hi and thank you for your reply. My hba1c was done before I started any meds or insulin which is what confused me but I didn't take lifestyle into account. I do tend to eat healthier than she does so that makes perfect sense. Thanks again x
 
Hemoglobin is the protein in blood cells. In the course of the blood cell's life, it may sometimes collide with sugar and get stuck.
It is normal at any time for about 5% of your hemoglobin to be glycosolated, or stuck to a sugar. If you average higher blood sugars , more of your hemoglobin will have sugar stuck to it.

If your glycosolated hemoglobin A1c is 5.7% or greater, that is considered very strong evidence that your average blood sugar is too high. If your hbA1c is 6.5% or greater, that is enough to diagnose you with diabetes. If it is below 6.5% it is still possible that you could have diabetes.

If your A1c comes in slightly high (say, 5.9%) then your healthcare provider will hopefully have a discussion with you to figure out if you can reasonably change things in your life like getting more exercise or a different diet to lower it, and might refer you to a dietician, a diabetes educator, or another specialist. You might or might not be put on a medication.
If your A1c comes in higher (say, 7.2%) then you should be put on a medication, probably a metformin, as well as maybe getting lifestyle advice and a referral to another doctor.
If your A1c is sky high (say, 12.5%) then you will probably be put at least temporarily on insulin but you might only be put on an oral medication, and you should get a referral to one or more specialists, like an endocrinologist or diabetologist.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…