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How reliable is the HbA1c .Not very it seems

Not a bad idea to pop to A and E when they are next very high. Though maybe not in evening at weekend as will be full of drunks and drunken fight victims. I think you are going to have to be a bit pushy and ask if they can see you sooner rather than on 26th- I'm guessing the consultant is still trying to work out what to do with you!
 
Susiespearish said:
I have enough to do that for a couple of days Nicola as I've just got my new strips .I'm going to invest in a code free as a back up I think. I'm not sure what a DSN is but i meant that the nurses did all the usual checks BP ect when I attended the hospital .I saw a nurse on my first visit to the diabetic clinic at the GP but I was probably so bolshy over demanding a meter that I've never been asked to return lol I just see the GP who is the diabetic specialist and runs the clinic at our practice anyway :)
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Ah that is just a normal nurse then haha that's what happens when I am there! What meter do you have? :)
 
ohitsnicola said:
Ah that is just a normal nurse then haha that's what happens when I am there! What meter do you have? :)
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it's made by Spirit and it's a CareSensN .

Do you drive Nicola? One of the reasons I'm put off insulin is the driving part .Do you have to take another test each time you renew or just send in medical form ?
 
Susiespearish said:
it's made by Spirit and it's a CareSensN .

Do you drive Nicola? One of the reasons I'm put off insulin is the driving part .Do you have to take another test each time you renew or just send in medical form ?
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Go on abott's website or GlucoMen they have free ones :)
 
Susiespearish said:
So they do,thank you !! How much are their strips Nicola ,they don't say ? That might be the deciding factor
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Not sure but if you go to your gp hand them the card that comes in the box and then they should prescribe you them, if you get the glucomen one then that tests for ketones and that can be your reason for having a spare! If not have a google for strips, they usually come with about 10 strips anyway :)
 
There are factors than can affect an HBA1c result and some of them are listed here,

4. What can affect the accuracy of the HbA1c test?
There are some situations where the HbA1c test may not be reliable. To be accurate, the test relies on the 3-month lifespan of red blood cells. In circumstances where the lifespan of the red blood cells is affected, the test will be inaccurate. Some examples of such situations include anaemia, iron deficiency, blood transfusion (including blood donation), kidney failure and any illness that affects red blood cell survival. Vitamin C and E intake has also been reported to influence HbA1c levels
http://t1dn.org.au/our-stuff/learn-about-type-1/hba1c-explained/

I have also read that B12 deficiency can affect the test as can using aspirin. This article explains some of the conditions and drugs that can affect your result.
http://www.ijem.in/article.asp?issn...issue=4;spage=528;epage=531;aulast=Unnikrishn



Hope you find this helpful.

CC.
 
catherinecherub said:
There are factors than can affect an HBA1c result and some of them are listed here,

Hope you find this helpful.

CC.
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Thank you Catherine :-) I've been on Trimethoprin for a chest infection in the last few months and they can give a false low .I've also been on the steroid Dexamethasone three times in the last few months and it seems this can affect it too .Maybe mystery solved .
 
Wow was 18.9 on waking and 21 last night but just now it's 9.5 possibly because all I've eaten today is a small cup of soup but wow !! single figures for the first time I can remember .Maybe the new drug is kicking in or I've not been as careful with my food as I thought i was being ?? Either way ...good news :-) Shame I feel tired and ill today .Guess my bodies in shock .
 
Oh Susie, what a crazy situation you are in. You are doing your best and not getting helped. I can only think it's because you were already diagnosed as Type 2, that the medics are so relaxed about your high BG. I would be tempted to turn up at A&E with BG in the 20s and not mention the Type 2, and see what happens. I'm pretty sure they will diagnose you with Type 1 on the spot.

It's really good you are keeping your sense of humour. Good luck Susie.
 
Spiker said:
Oh Susie, what a crazy situation you are in. You are doing your best and not getting helped. I can only think it's because you were already diagnosed as Type 2, that the medics are so relaxed about your high BG. I would be tempted to turn up at A&E with BG in the 20s and not mention the Type 2, and see what happens. I'm pretty sure they will diagnose you with Type 1 on the spot.

It's really good you are keeping your sense of humour. Good luck Susie.
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@Spiker I ended up in A&E on saturday night but with an Angina attack .My bg's were 22 and 18.5 even after a night of no food whilst I was admitted and moved to a ward .They didn't seem overly concerned with that at all ,just like the last time so i can only surmise that it can't be that desperate a situation although I have just done a 24 hour urine collection for them .The "diabetic" breakfast was 2 rounds of toast and butter *shakes head * :D
 
Well, the butter was good anyway! Seriously I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. :(
 
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