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TWO different Hba1c results within 19 hours!... really?

S

sandyck1

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Hi, I wonder if anyone can help me out please?

I am due an op for a gastric sleeve in 5 weeks so had to have my hba1c checked as part of my pre assessment. I had 2 tests done at different hospitals (one for my regular check at the docs and one for the hospital where I will be having my op).

Now for my op to go ahead my hba1c had to be below 69.5 mmo/L (8.5).
My docs results came back at 65mmol/L (8.1) :D but the hospitals results came back at 72mmol/L (8.7)! :(
The tests were done within 19 hours of each other at different hospitals.

I cant understand why the results can be so different from 2 different labs?! :crazy: I can understand a little variation, but 7mmol/L different????? :***:

Anyway doesn't look like I'll be getting my op yet...devastated :(
Has anyone ever had this experience?
 
I had 2 hba1cs done within days of each other earlier this year, one at my gps and one at the hospital. One was 55, one was 52. Like any test, there will be a degree of inaccuracy/unreliability, presumably the test has to have a certain amount of reliability to be deemed acceptable.

I suppose it's like the glucose meters, they can be out to a certain extent (I think 10%)

I would expect more accuracy from professional equipment in a hospital lab though.

Can you have the test again - best of three?
 
As anti_carb says there is error in the reading. Hba1c readings are accurate to around 3% of the reading. Three percent of 8.7 is about 0.3. So they're broadly consistent if a little imprecise. If they were done in different labs then that will add to the imprecision.
 
I agree that there has to be some degree of error but what concerned me is that the results are different by 7mmol/L :(

I suppose I wouldn't be so bothered if the higher reading hadn't just delayed my op :(
 
It's pretty bad luck to be fair. Have you been given a new date to aim for? Like I said on the other thread, perhaps spend the month before being extra diligent and it might swing your way.

Can I ask, what is your current diet, testing and med regime? Plenty of folks on here that can give you advice to lower your hba1c in a more sustainable way.
 
I am yet to receive a new date for my op. I have to speak with the nurse at the hospital on Monday. I assume she will want my hba1c lower before she gives me a new date?!

I have managed to reduce the average over 90 days results on my daily bg meter from 13mmol/L to 9.8mmol/L in just under 3 weeks. I know this isn't a true reflection of management but gave me hope that my hba1c would reflect this change.

I take 2000mg of slow release metformin per day (1000mg morning and evening, with meals) and also 40mg of gliclazide with my morning metformin.

My doc advised that I test before and 2 hrs after meals 3 times per day. I very rarely eat in between meals for fear of raising my blood sugars. If I do feel hungry in between meals then I either have an apple, or just drink loads of water!

I drink about 3 litres of water per day and limit my total carb intake to 50g for the whole day, spreading this out between meals.

I just don't seem to be able to tolerate carbs any more, so breakfast is hard. Lunch is normally soup and dinner consists of mainly protein and veg or salad. I don't like dressings, fat or skin...or meat really! lol. I tend to eat holding my nose as I cant stand the smell or taste of meat. I have started eating quorn as a replacement but am sooooo bored with food!
 
I am yet to receive a new date for my op. I have to speak with the nurse at the hospital on Monday. I assume she will want my hba1c lower before she gives me a new date?!

I have managed to reduce the average over 90 days results on my daily bg meter from 13mmol/L to 9.8mmol/L in just under 3 weeks. I know this isn't a true reflection of management but gave me hope that my hba1c would reflect this change.

I take 2000mg of slow release metformin per day (1000mg morning and evening, with meals) and also 40mg of gliclazide with my morning metformin.

My doc advised that I test before and 2 hrs after meals 3 times per day. I very rarely eat in between meals for fear of raising my blood sugars. If I do feel hungry in between meals then I either have an apple, or just drink loads of water!

I drink about 3 litres of water per day and limit my total carb intake to 50g for the whole day, spreading this out between meals.

I just don't seem to be able to tolerate carbs any more, so breakfast is hard. Lunch is normally soup and dinner consists of mainly protein and veg or salad. I don't like dressings, fat or skin...or meat really! lol. I tend to eat holding my nose as I cant stand the smell or taste of meat. I have started eating quorn as a replacement but am sooooo bored with food! :(
 
It sounds like you're doing exactly the right things to me. How long have you been this diligent? I'd certainly expect that regimen to give good results. What are you before and after meal results? If in single figures, then you should hit your hba1c target.
 
Only for about 3 weeks! lol

My readings were high as my old doc kept changing my medication when I was under control with a hba1c of 54.
I got fed up and went to see another doc who increased my metformin and gave me gliclazide to help get me back under control. The doc also suggested that I may be extremely carb sensitive and have become intolerant of carbs as a 15g bowl of low carb breakfast with skimmed milk would send my bloods over 14! Which I might add was ridiculous!

My readings normally range from between late 6's to high 9's.I have had the odd 5 too! After breakfast is when I tend to have higher readings of sometimes around the 12 mark, even when being carb wise. But in saying that I also quite often wake with bloods in the 8's and 9's :(


The doc suggested I have a teaspoon of peanut butter before I go to bed to give my body a low carb 'snack' to keep me going through the night as he thinks I am going low-ish during the night which is what could be causing my night sweats and high morning bloods.
 
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