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Suspicious HbA1c Result... I'm not convinced.

On a serious level, are there any long term damaging effects associated with LOW blood glucose?
 
Hi Acron.

Most definitely :shock:

LOW BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS. (Hypoglycaemia) 4mmol/l is considered the floor.

Hypoglycaemia means an abnormally low level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. This is dangerous because the brain is dependent on a constant supply of glucose as its sole provider of energy.

Hypoglycaemia occurs mainly in people with diabetes who have taken too much diabetes medication, missed a meal or drunk alcohol on an empty stomach.

If it's not treated, hypoglycaemia may lead to unconsciousness, during which the brain may be damaged from a lack of oxygen. Fortunately, most people will have some warning that their blood glucose levels are too low, giving them time to eat or drink some carbohydrate-rich food.

Ken.
 
Ok, but hypos are an immediate thing. My hypos awareness is good so I know when they're coming on and do something about it. Lets ridiculously assume that my HbA1c IS 3.8%. What long term effects will that have? Will I eventually become brain damaged?
 
Acron.

If you remain at those hypothetical levels it would have the same effect as stated. Are you willing to run the risk of brain damage ? It is termed Hypoglycaemia.
A hypo is just when you are in that danger zone. i.e below the recognised floor of 4 mmol/l. It is not something you should be doing. Not my opinion here, this is a medical fact. There are high levels and low levels which should not be exceeded. If they are then it becomes a medical emergency.
Ask any Endocrinologist.
There is no other answer as far as I am concerned. :?

Ken.
 
Ok, maybe my understanding of 'hypoglycaemia' has been wrong then. I didn't realise there was a difference between "a hypo" (entering into a hypoglycaemic state, as I understood it) and "hypoglycaemia" as a prolonged state of being. Obviously I don't want brain damage...

Admittedly, I do sail pretty close to the wind but I didn't think I was this bad. It shocks me when some people say they haven't hypo'd for years. I have at least a couple each week. Maybe it's my transition into a lower carb diet. Thing is, I've significantly reduced my insulin intake as well. I used to be on 20u am and ~24u pm of premix when on carbs. Now I'm like 8u and 10u, respectively.

This just seems all wrong to me. Has anyone ever heard of a diabetic having too low an HbA1c? :| Point and laugh, kids. Point and laugh.
 
Diabet4es Uk do an online conversion tool for changing the results into the new or old format - check it out at :-

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Treatment__your_health/Monitoring/Blood_glucose/Glycated_haemoglobin_HbA1c_and_fructosamine/

I have seen a simlilar one somewhere that also converts back the other way - though can't remember now where I saw it.
Still very depressing with a teenage son - does 130+ sound any worse than 14+ ? :(
He is gradually improving and has just gone down to 11.8/105 but it is still alarming...
 
We've already had a discussion about the format and it's no use speculating until after my appointment really. I'm just gonna be bl**dy worried for the next two weeks.
 
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