I dont understand the numbers

Hi Gill
I think the numbers you have are HbA1c figures
For info Hba1c measures your average blood sugar over the past 9 to 12 weeks
The readings would be 81- 9.6% and 69 -8.5.%
The reason for the 2 figures is that the smaller figure is the result in % (The old Method of recording the result) and the larger figure is in mmol/mol,( the new method)
The change was apparently made as the Hb1Ac results expressed as a % ,( the old method) were being confused with normal Blood Glucose readings taken with a meter and test strip (these are expressed in mmol/L)and give a now reading.
All very confusing to a new Diabetic.
Anyway back to your HbA1c readings.
A reading of 81(9.6%) is pretty high. you should aim in the long run to get it to about 48 (6.5%) as a diabetic
A person without diabetes would be below 41(5.9%)
Did the Dr put you on Metformin, or advise any action ?
Happy to help on any queries

Phew, it's not just me who gets confused then!

So, are the readings on my blood glucose monitoring machine the same as the % readings?

R x

No, the readings of HbA1c (usually a Blood sample sent to a Lab) the % are a average of your blood sugar over the last 9-12 weeks
The test you do with your Machine and strip- Finger prick, is testing your blood glucose at the moment you take the test, it can and will change in as little as a few minutes. So once you eat any food (mainly Carbohydrates)it turns to glucose and this is what you are testing.
This figure should be under 7 (Or 7.8) depending on current thoughts, roughly 2 hours after you have eaten, but you need to get it into the 5-6 range if you can.
Eating Low or very little carbs and exercise all help to get there

gillytee31 said:

I have just come back from my GP and she gave me a number of 81 and said it had been 69 in February but have no idea of what this means, or what the normal level should be. I was diagnosed in November 2012 and have controlled diabetes with diet alone. I have seen the practice nurse quarterly. Last November the figure she gave me was 6.5 and then February 8.3, but have no idea how this compares to what I have been told today. Please can someone explain it to me? Thanks Gill

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Hello Gill I still use the old numbers, at the diabetic clinic I ask what is it' in old money' please.

There are some conversion tables on the main pages of the website.

Hi Robinredbreast,
I'm from South Africa and luckily we still use the old numbers, and I also prefer them.
In order to follow the latest thinking I follow a lot of the "Overseas" forums like this one, and American ones.
In the USA they have a different system of reporting Cholesterol numbers.
I've got a wad of conversion tables that I use daily, so guess that's why I know the numbers ( I hope)