I dont understand the hba1c test

[dotty lou]

I hve had hbaic blood test now every 3 months and it comes backat 5.3 each time even though I was bad on holiday and did have sme sugary carbsI didnt think this was abnormal...can someone advise me please :?:

 

[daisy1]

The HbA1c test is an average of your levels over a period of time (about 8-12 weeks). It will not show highs and lows or "bad" days. If you have too much time of eating what you know you shouldn't, then your average will go up. For you, maybe you went back on the wagon afterwards and were stricter with yourself so that offset what you ate on holiday. You are possibly eating better anyway now. The test also gives greater weight to the last few weeks before the blood is taken - it is not just a straight average. If you are careful during the whole of the next 3 months your level will possibly be lower although 5.3 is very good anyway.
HTH

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi dotty lou,

DCUK must have anticipated your question. In the newsletter today,
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html

 

[galgal]

my doctor told me it is a foolproof way of reading the recent history of your blood sugars. She said when people know they have a doctors appointment for blood sugar testing the "cheaters" :lol: tend to be good for the few days leading up to the appiontment so their reading will be good. However the HBa1c will give an average reading over the previous WEEKS so the cheaters will be caught out that way. Does this sound right to veteran diabetics.