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Blood test for HB1AC...comes to nothing !

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
HelenHanfe

HelenHanfe

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I went for a blood test last week, to get the above, for my appointment with the dietician. When I went to collect results, it had everything on there, but the magic number ! I spoke to 2 people at the surgery, who weren't very helpful. As the blood test was specifically for this / my diabetic review, it was a worthless test to me, if they can't give me the number. What a waste of everyone's time... Can clinics 'go back' to samples and re-test - or would I have to go and have another sample taken ??

Helen
 
Depends what they've actually done with the original Helen - if they lost it, well ..... sigh.
 
How annoying! I would imagine that they'd expect you to give another sample :(
 
HelenHanfe said:
I went for a blood test last week, to get the above, for my appointment with the dietician. When I went to collect results, it had everything on there, but the magic number ! I spoke to 2 people at the surgery, who weren't very helpful. As the blood test was specifically for this / my diabetic review, it was a worthless test to me, if they can't give me the number. What a waste of everyone's time... Can clinics 'go back' to samples and re-test - or would I have to go and have another sample taken ??

Helen
Click to expand...
Helen...how frustrating for you...wondering who you had your review with...GP or DSN...if it was the latter...perhaps you could give your practice a ring...ask for your GP to give you 'a call back'... explain its vital you know what your levels were/are...since type 2's are not encouraged to test (unless of course on insulin or other meds that may cause a hypo)...how on earth do they expect you to manage/control your diabetes unless you know those results...when first diagnosed my results did not give the HbA1c breakdown...just the figure in percentages...when I asked my GP why that breakdown was not included...he replied the lab never gave the HbA1c breakdown on the initial blood test ...I am assuming this is not your first blood test if it's your review...not good enough...my surgery/GP were not the most helpful...took some time to rectify that...after several discussions and a letter addressing the issues I was unhappy with...I now have their attention...whether the lab can go back and retest the same sample...I cannot advise on that...once again your GP can answer that question...I believe the treatment of many type 2's is shabby...inconsistent...poor at best...be persistent with them...you have to be...nothing wrong with that...suggest putting your concerns in writing...then everyone is clear about who said what to whom...agree entirely...what a waste of time for everyone...you in particular...be interested to hear how this develops...good luck.
 
@Bubbsie I'm sure I ought to know this Maybe it's cos I'm only just awake but what's an hba1 c breakdown? I only ever get one number like 53. Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here.
 
Lindarose said:
@Bubbsie I'm sure I ought to know this Maybe it's cos I'm only just awake but what's an hba1 c breakdown? I only ever get one number like 53. Sorry if I'm being a bit thick here.
Click to expand...
Hi Linda...the HbA1c test gives you the average level of your blood glucose over the last 2-3 months...as opposed to the meter checks we do which give you your BG at that particular point in time...these are a spot check...your 53 result will give you an average of approximately 7 for the last three months...so you're doing well on that result...and if some time since your last HbA1c (assuming here you have had one)...then you may well have made even more progress since ...need another coffee myself...but off to the clinic shortly.
 
You can't break an HbA1c down, can you?

It only measures the ONE thing - how much glucose has stuck to your haemoglobin during the lifetime of that haemoglobin - ie about 12 weeks.

It is NOT an average - there is actually more emphasis on recent weeks and less on the earlier ones.
 
Oh PS Bubbsie - it doesn't mean that anyone's BG has been whatever for the last few months.

When my BG was seesawing from HI on my meter to LO and back again for several months - my HbA1c was 7.2%. All the hypos cancelled out the hypers - and OK if the glucose didn't stick maybe it wouldn't kill me - but you could hardly say I was doing well, day to day, could you?
 
trophywench said:
Oh PS Bubbsie - it doesn't mean that anyone's BG has been whatever for the last few months.

When my BG was seesawing from HI on my meter to LO and back again for several months - my HbA1c was 7.2%. All the hypos cancelled out the hypers - and OK if the glucose didn't stick maybe it wouldn't kill me - but you could hardly say I was doing well, day to day, could you?
Click to expand...

This is what concerns me with my surgery's approach - last time I saw a GP (a few weeks ago) I mentioned I was concerned that I didn't know what my BG was doing day-to-day, and his repsonse was "well your last HbA1c was good so you don't need to worry" - my last HbA1c was done in September!

Keeping everything crossed that they've just misplaced your results Helen, and not that they've forgotten/not been told to do the right tests xx
 
Bubbsie said:
Hi Linda...the HbA1c test gives you the average level of your blood glucose over the last 2-3 months...as opposed to the meter checks we do which give you your BG at that particular point in time...these are a spot check...your 53 result will give you an average of approximately 7 for the last three months...so you're doing well on that result...and if some time since your last HbA1c (assuming here you have had one)...then you may well have made even more progress since ...need another coffee myself...but off to the clinic shortly.
Click to expand...
Hi @Bubbsie . I think you may be confusing HbA1c readings in old money with average BG meter readings, but they are not the same thing. 53 converts to 7.0% old-style HbA1c, but if you use one of the formulae in this old thread, an HbA1c of 7.0% gives an average meter reading of about 8.5/8.6, not so good!
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/average-hba1c.6334/#post-102502
 
I have to agree @silentsquirrel . Any 'average glucose' estimates based on HbA1c are educated guesses at best. There is no direct correlation between fingerstick BG and HbA1c. There are many, many tables online that suggest that there is, but all of these are based on mathematical formulae which attempt an estimate (many of which are derived as a best fit from empirical data). Same goes for HbA1c estimators that are sometimes included with BG logging software. They can only offer a guide. My lab A1c results are always quite a bit out from the formula estimates.
 
@HelenHanfe - Sometimes receptionists will only offer 'normal' or 'make an appointment' as a result as a initial response (not very helpful!). But if you are presistent and reasin with them, I usually find mine will give me the numbers.
 
silentsquirrel said:
Hi @Bubbsie . I think you may be confusing HbA1c readings in old money with average BG meter readings, but they are not the same thing. 53 converts to 7.0% old-style HbA1c, but if you use one of the formulae in this old thread, an HbA1c of 7.0% gives an average meter reading of about 8.5/8.6, not so good!
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/average-hba1c.6334/#post-102502
Click to expand...
everydayupsanddowns said:
I have to agree @silentsquirrel . Any 'average glucose' estimates based on HbA1c are educated guesses at best. There is no direct correlation between fingerstick BG and HbA1c. There are many, many tables online that suggest that there is, but all of these are based on mathematical formulae which attempt an estimate (many of which are derived as a best fit from empirical data). Same goes for HbA1c estimators that are sometimes included with BG logging software. They can only offer a guide. My lab A1c results are always quite a bit out from the formula estimates.
Click to expand...

Hi silentsquirrel...have you read the thread from the start...this issue here is that one forum member did not get the results from her recent HbA1c test...something which is vital to be able to see if she is managing to control her diabetes...not which one of us is correct on the conversion...that was /is a side issue...whichever of us is correct isn't particularly relevant to Helene...how she gets her HbA1c is the important matter...I am aware any conversion is just a guide...is it helpful to describe anyone's BG level at 8.5 or 8.6 as 'not so good'...its not ideal...but it is what it is...and no doubt anyone with that average can with a little work reduce that figure to a more acceptable level...with the right encouragement.
 
Sorry @Bubbsie didn't mean to upset you. Just wanted to make sure the OP didn't go in trying to get the HbA1c result and also a 'breakdown' figure (since that is unlikely to be on the receptionist's screen as it won't be an 'official' conversion).

I absolutely agree that getting the actual result is important (see my subsequent post). Also useful for Helen to know that it's not uncommon for receptionists to seem slightly averse to giving out the actual numbers, "Oh, well you won't understand what that means... and we don't want you to worry... best book an appointment with the Dr who can explain... blah blah". Sometimes you just have to nag them a bit - at least that has been my experience!

Of course mix-ups do happen, and it might be as was suggested earlier, that the result/sample has just gone missing and that the number isn't available to be given.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry @Bubbsie didn't mean to upset you. Just wanted to make sure the OP didn't go in trying to get the HbA1c result and also a 'breakdown' figure (since that is unlikely to be on the receptionist's screen as it won't be an 'official' conversion).

I absolutely agree that getting the actual result is important (see my subsequent post). Also useful for Helen to know that it's not uncommon for receptionists to seem slightly averse to giving out the actual numbers, "Oh, well you won't understand what that means... and we don't want you to worry... best book an appointment with the Dr who can explain... blah blah". Sometimes you just have to nag them a bit - at least that has been my experience!

Of course mix-ups do happen, and it might be as was suggested earlier, that the result/sample has just gone missing and that the number isn't available to be given.
Click to expand...
everydayupsanddowns no need to apologise...you haven't upset me in the slightest...I just felt the essence of Helene's thread was going off at a tangent...that does happen...and nothing wrong with addressing the additional HbA1c question...but...the main point seemed to be obscured with the debate on which conversion was applicable.
 
Last year I had the first HbA1c for some time; two or three years. I then had a telephone call from the surgery urging me to go directly to see a GP. When I said I could not be there until the following day, it was noted that it was "my decision".
The following day I asked for the number. It was 125, and I looked at an online site for further information.
The next one was "satisfactory, no further action", which translated as 59, followed by 49, "abnormal but expected", which was 43, and the latest, which is 47. I have requested all four of the latest, and it was agreed as appropriate, and will do so again, as I know that the BGs are not always as I would wish. I think that the receptionists may not always understand the significance of the numbers. Perhaps they expected me to panic last year...
 
Thanks for all the input guys. I went back to the surgery and they said it was noted on the form when blood was taken it was for a diabetic review. They called the lab apparently and the answer was 'we have hundreds to do', which doesn't explain to me why the HB1AC number wasn't included in the results, when I got everything else! On the plus side, other numbers were down...but the surgery suggest at this point, it's just easier to go in and have another test done...sigh..... Again, thanks for all the input. i do appreciate all the comments.
 
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