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High HbA1C - timming of second test to confirm.

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Sugarcube2021

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Hi,

I'm new to the forum, however in December 2020 my HbA1c came out high at 84 mmol/mol. (Normal level 18-41).


I understand for diagnostic purposes you need a second test to confirm diabetes.


I was just wondering when i should go for the 2nd test. Is it after 3 months from the first test?


In the meantime, i have already changed my diet to cut back on junk foods and already lost 4kg just by avoiding chocolates and crisps.
 
From quick searches it seems for asymptomatic patients supposed to be a 2nd test within 2 weeks to confirm

but your level is so high maybe it’s not needed? I never had multiple tests, a single one was all that’s needed but that was in 2008 so much has changed since

that said, your weight loss and change in diet may well have helped your hba1c a lot.

really the answer is to call your doctor. What was the advice? We’re you given drugs or suggestions? Covid impacts has changed so much though, normal diagnostics are totally out of the window for many
 
Hello and welcome,

Well done on starting to change your diet- that will make a difference. For what it's worth by following the awesome advice I received her my HbA1c at three months after the diagnosis was well into the 'normal' range and has stayed there ever since.

Read around this site and ask questions. My suggestion only is to start with these links:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/basic-information-for-newly-diagnosed-diabetics.26870/

There can feel like a lot to take on board but the people on this site are amazing and are very generous with their time and advice.

my personal opinion is that just one test at that level means you are a diabetic without the need for a second test.

Good luck and welcome.
 
Hi there

As others have said, it’s usual to have the second test within 2 weeks, but may not be needed with a result well into the diabetic range. I also only had one test as my initial HbA1c was very high (108).

In addition to the links @VashtiB sahred, I’d also recommend taking a look at the Diet Doctor website. Excellent for food ideas, recipes etc.
 
I had two tests very close together for diagnosis. and the results (low 60s) were almost identical. I was automatically given my second test after the first results, and assumed it's simply a double check in case of possible errors/problems.

I was initially told by my nurse to cut down on sugar, and having discovered this should be all carbs, reduced my HBA1c to pre-diabetic levels within a couple of months. My GP suggested trying the Atkins (low carbohydrate/ketogenic) diet, and these two pieces of advice have kept my glucose levels well under control, so definitely take on board the good advice and pointers given in previous posts!
 
The repeat test should be within 2 weeks unless the initial high HbA1c was accompanied by symptoms of diabetes:-
HbA1c has been recommended as a test option for the diagnosis of diabetes by both the American Diabetes Association (1) and the World Health Organization (WHO) (2). Both organizations advised that after a result consistent with the diagnosis of diabetes (≥6.5% [48 mmol/mol]), HbA1c levels should be repeated in asymptomatic patients within 2 weeks to rule out the rare occurrence of a sample being mislabelled. Consensus statements from expert bodies in the U.K. endorsed these recommendations, which were implemented locally in 2012 (3). Since adoption of HbA1c as the principal test for diabetes, we have received a steady trickle of queries about discordant HbA1c results from clinicians. In some cases, the discrepancy between two results obtained within the short repeat interval was striking.
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/6/e135​
 
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