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Normal HBA1C levels ?

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

Claire D

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi I’m claire age 50 , I got diagnosed with Diabetes 2 on the 5th Dec 2017 ... since then I have been on 1 Metformin slow release per day ... I’ve just had my first HBA1C taken 2 days ago since been diagnosed ... just phoned gp for my results and was just told it was 48 ... I’m lost as to wether this is good or bad :( any information would be greatly appreciated thank you Claire x
 
48 is just in the diabetic range, 42 to 47 is prediabetic and under 42 is normal.
Well done on being so nearly not diabetic - a few less carbs each day and you cold be in normal numbers by your next test - with any luck.
 
Hi Claire
Normal is usually 42 or below
Prediabetes 42 to 47
Diabetes 48 or over

Do you know what your original result was?
 
Drummer said:
48 is just in the diabetic range, 42 to 47 is prediabetic and under 42 is normal.
Well done on being so nearly not diabetic - a few less carbs each day and you cold be in normal numbers by your next test - with any luck.
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Thank you so much for replying .. so does this mean I have done well in 5 months ? I’m totally confused by it all :(
 
kentish maid said:
Hi Claire
Normal is usually 42 or below
Prediabetes 42 to 47
Diabetes 48 or over

Do you know what your original result was?
Click to expand...
I’m not sure but think my reading on my diagnosis meant that my blood sugar converted to about 9 or 10 sorry if this doesn’t make sense I’m so confused and haven’t received much help from my gp or nurse so far :( x
 
Claire D said:
I’m not sure but think my reading on my diagnosis meant that my blood sugar converted to about 9 or 10 sorry if this doesn’t make sense I’m so confused and haven’t received much help from my gp or nurse so far :( x
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Sadly it is not unusual to find that the diabetic nurse is not very helpful but you are in the right place now to get good advice. I was only diagnosed last year so still have a lot to learn but I do know there are several methods of recording levels and I m sure someone more experienced will be along to give you more advice.
 
kentish maid said:
Sadly it is not unusual to find that the diabetic nurse is not very helpful but you are in the right place now to get good advice. I was only diagnosed last year so still have a lot to learn but I do know there are several methods of recording levels and I m sure someone more experienced will be along to give you more advice.
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Thank you for replying I’m sure we will soon get the hang of it
 
Claire D said:
Thank you for replying I’m sure we will soon get the hang of it
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Have you been on a DESMOND course Claire? Usually a one day education course which is meant to help you understand your diabetes and point you in the right direction regarding diet
 
kentish maid said:
Have you been on a DESMOND course Claire? Usually a one day education course which is meant to help you understand your diabetes and point you in the right direction regarding diet
Click to expand...
Hello I got offered a place to go on the course but sadly they were when I was at work or my little girl was home from school and because I’m a single mum find it hard to get her minded ... but when I see my D nurse in 3 weeks I will mention it again and try my best to attend 🙂 as I know they are very informative x
 
hba1c-chart.jpg


Finally found this, looks like you are doing well 🙂
 
Welcome to the forum Claire, from a fellow T2.
Unfortunately it sounds like you have an uninformative GP practice. Contacted them and ask about an HbA1c from when you where diagnosed.
Since you have been diagnosed T2 you were at least 48 in December. I'm going with it's good. Many of us where higher when diagnosed.
There are a couple of different scales, and they all get used which really doesn't help. There are also different tests, which tell you different things.
An HbA1c of 48 is in the newer numbers.

The HbA1c is an average of your blood glucose levels over the last 8-12 weeks.
There is also the finger prick test (which you can do yourself at home) which tells you what your blood glucose level at that time. This one is affect by when you last time and what you ate.
 
Ralph-YK said:
Welcome to the forum Claire, from a fellow T2.
Unfortunately it sounds like you have an uninformative GP practice. Contacted them and ask about an HbA1c from when you where diagnosed.
Since you have been diagnosed T2 you were at least 48 in December. I'm going with it's good. Many of us where higher when diagnosed.
There are a couple of different scales, and they all get used which really doesn't help. There are also different tests, which tell you different things.
An HbA1c of 48 is in the newer numbers.

The HbA1c is an average of your blood glucose levels over the last 8-12 weeks.
There is also the finger prick test (which you can do yourself at home) which tells you what your blood glucose level at that time. This one is affect by when you last time and what you ate.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much I will ask what my lady reading was in Dec when I go to the nurse on the 17th May but I admit they haven’t been very helpful .... I got a monitor today I’ve got a kitchen like the chain saw Massacre and still haven’t managed to get a reading ... I just keep getting an error message :(
 
kentish maid said:
Mine was 48 in September last year, had gone down to 44 in March. I am not on any medication. The GP gave me 6 months to lose a stone in weight. 7 months on from diagnosis I have now lost two and a half stone. Next blood test will be in September
Click to expand...
That amazing well done ... it’s just very hard trying to understand everything xx
 
Claire D said:
Thank you so much I will ask what my lady reading was in Dec when I go to the nurse on the 17th May but I admit they haven’t been very helpful .... I got a monitor today I’ve got a kitchen like the chain saw Massacre and still haven’t managed to get a reading ... I just keep getting an error message :(
Click to expand...
What meter do you have Claire? Have a read of Painless Pricks, by Alan S, it might help you with your testing. Also, have a read of Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S so that you can understand how to use the test strips to provide you with good, useful information - no point in testing randomly, each test should provide you with information you can then act on 🙂

To understand Type 2 better, and how you can manage it, read Maggie Davey's letter and get yourself a copy of the excellent Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, which will help to guide you through these early months 🙂
 
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