Question about blood glucose and hemoglobin test results

[normalhuman]

I am considered a very healthy person by everyone that knows me. 31M, 5'9", 155 pounds, lightweight muscular build. However, I don't exercise very often and I have a tendency to binge eat, but it doesn't cause me to gain weight for whatever reason.

I got some routine blood testing done and my blood glucose is at 103 and Hemoglobin A1C is at 5.2. I had the blood drawn at 9am after having fasted for about 12 hours.

I'm looking for someone to help me interpret these results. Thanks very much!

 

[Chris24Main]

Hi @normalhuman -

You are using the US form of units, but they both pretty much are equivalent, and say the same thing - your blood glucose is in the range considered normal.

A fasting plasma glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) or an HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% is considered prediabetes, meaning an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

"fasting plasma" simply means the amount of measurable glucose molecules in a blood sample - so that's like a snapshot.

HbA1c - this is more like an average over a period of roughly three months. It measures the amount of glycation of blood haemoglobin - so the blood cells live for around 3 months, and this is a measure of how often they have bumped into a glucose molecule in that time... so a measure of average glucose levels.

As I say, in both cases; under the threshold for pre-diabetes in the US - or rather the plasma is just over, but the A1c is under. (A1c will be used for diagnosis, your levels can vary quite a lot through the day for lots of non-food reasons)

Binge eating isn't directly a problem in itself, depending on what you are binge eating on and why - But I'm certainly not going to judge anyone for that - used to be I'd be very twitchy if I didn't have a big bag of snacks and a bottle of wine to settle into most nights.

 

[normalhuman]

Hi @normalhuman -

You are using the US form of units, but they both pretty much are equivalent, and say the same thing - your blood glucose is in the range considered normal.

A fasting plasma glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) or an HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% is considered prediabetes, meaning an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

"fasting plasma" simply means the amount of measurable glucose molecules in a blood sample - so that's like a snapshot.

HbA1c - this is more like an average over a period of roughly three months. It measures the amount of glycation of blood haemoglobin - so the blood cells live for around 3 months, and this is a measure of how often they have bumped into a glucose molecule in that time... so a measure of average glucose levels.

As I say, in both cases; under the threshold for pre-diabetes in the US - or rather the plasma is just over, but the A1c is under. (A1c will be used for diagnosis, your levels can vary quite a lot through the day for lots of non-food reasons)

Binge eating isn't directly a problem in itself, depending on what you are binge eating on and why - But I'm certainly not going to judge anyone for that - used to be I'd be very twitchy if I didn't have a big bag of snacks and a bottle of wine to settle into most nights.

Thanks for the response! Would you be willing to clarify – my glucose level is 103, which falls between the 100-125 mark – so how come you say I'm in the range considered normal? Thank you.

 

[Chris24Main]

Because it's on the threshold and the HbA1c takes precedence as your spot measurement result will vary a lot over the day.

there are things you can do if you are concerned, but there is no particular need to be concerned.

 

[normalhuman]

Because it's on the threshold and the HbA1c takes precedence as your spot measurement result will vary a lot over the day.

there are things you can do if you are concerned, but there is no particular need to be concerned.

Thank you! I will be going back in six weeks for another blood test anyway, so I'll be curious to see how it changes.

 

[Chris24Main]

How do you think it might change?
is there anything you plan on doing over the next six weeks that may have an effect?

 

[normalhuman]

How do you think it might change?
is there anything you plan on doing over the next six weeks that may have an effect?

I don't know how it might change – I am wondering how much it will fluctuate do to randomness or unknown factors. Unrelatedly, my B12 is low, so I'm hoping that with supplements and a little more animal protein in my diet that will be back to normal as well. Otherwise I don't have any plans to change anything because it sounds like things are fine (I finally heard from my doctor, who was not concerned about possible pre-diabetes.)

 

[Chris24Main]

Excellent - and glad that you got some feedback from your doctor. Hope it goes well in six weeks (and I was really just curious what was in your mind..)