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HbA1c result

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happydog

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Got my results back today. HbA1c has gone up from 39 to 42, so not good :( I will have to try harder. I wonder if it has been pushed up because I have had and still have a virus type thing that has given me a tight chest and very sore throat for over five weeks now. It is improving but not gone yet. Probably clutching at straws :(. Feel a bit disappointed.
 
Got my results back today. HbA1c has gone up from 39 to 42, so not good :( I will have to try harder. I wonder if it has been pushed up because I have had and still have a virus type thing that has given me a tight chest and very sore throat for over five weeks now. It is improving but not gone yet. Probably clutching at straws :(. Feel a bit disappointed.
Its not clutching at straws happydog when we're ill our BGs rise...42 is an excellent result with what sounds like it could be a chest infection...being ill for five weeks and almost maintaining the same HbA1c is a good result...I do understand your initial disappointment but in the circumstances you must have been working hard to keep it at that level...its risen a fraction...not much...once you're over the virus you can concentrate on reducing that number...but...look after yourself first that has to be a priority...don't be disappointed...you've done so well in the circumstances.
 
The 4 weeks immediately before you donate the armful of blood, have by far the greatest effect on the HbA1c result, about 55%, the 4 wks previous to that about 30 and the oldest 15 - something like that anyway - the result is not actually and average of the whole.

In which case you've done really well !
 
I wonder if it has been pushed up because I have had and still have a virus type thing
I was diagnosed diabetic because of a (repeated) infection in my legs. The doctors told me the results of the diabetic test were affected by the infection, and I needed to have the test done once I was clear of the infection.
So your results could be higher because of the virus. How much I don't know.
 
Still a great result happydog.

I agree, especially where you've been struggling with illness recently. It's a small rise, but still shows you are working hard to keep your BGs in good ranges.
 
39 / 42 are well within the margin of error for this test so there's really no need to beat yourself up.
I can understand being disappointed by an apparently worse result - just use it as a spur to do the extra 2 or 3 minutes walking or have one less biscuit.
 
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. In no way am I going to give up. The DN says I don't need to test and that it is probable that my meagre supply of strips will be withdrawn. Then she proceeded to order a sharps bin for my use, bit odd? Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine 🙂
 
Thank you everyone for your encouragement. In no way am I going to give up. The DN says I don't need to test and that it is probable that my meagre supply of strips will be withdrawn. Then she proceeded to order a sharps bin for my use, bit odd? Hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine 🙂

@happydog - - Bearing in mind your recent period of being under the weather, it would be likely your HbA1c would nudge up a trifle. 42 is still a fine number.

One thing I would suggest is, if your nurse is considering removing your strip prescription, you caould suggest that you particularly need them for now, to ensure you get those numbers back down again.

As my dear old, departed, Mother would say,....."You've got to work with what you've got."

A trifle opportunist, but hey ho. Needs must sometimes. 🙂
 
Hey that's still a great result especially since you've been unwell!
 
Thank you both. I did say that I find testing useful to give me an idea of what is happening and she said it only gives you a tiny picture for just that few minutes and is not really useful in that way. Only the HbA1c counts to really know what is going on. I told her that I have and still have this sore throat and tight chest and she said. I think it is more likely that you might have had a little cheat and thought that it would be OK, now you know that it is not. I did not do that. I might try fasting as I hear that helps so will have to have a good look at how it could work for me. I was disappointed but feel OK about it now. 🙂
 
Thank you both. I did say that I find testing useful to give me an idea of what is happening and she said it only gives you a tiny picture for just that few minutes and is not really useful in that way. Only the HbA1c counts to really know what is going on. I told her that I have and still have this sore throat and tight chest and she said. I think it is more likely that you might have had a little cheat and thought that it would be OK, now you know that it is not. I did not do that. I might try fasting as I hear that helps so will have to have a good look at how it could work for me. I was disappointed but feel OK about it now. 🙂
In my completely unprofessional opinion, finger pick tests give you a much better picture of what's going on than a 3/6monthly or even yearly blood test. My consultant asks me to bring my meter to every appointment and downloads my finger prick numbers so he can look through them. We focus on that more than my hba1c (although I've been avoiding him recently!)
 
The HbA1c is flawed. If you have constant highs & lows, it will show the average of these & come back with a good figure, despite the fact that constant yo-yoing BG's are not good.
 
Your nurse sounds a tad patronising! 42 is a great number still, but I know I'd be annoyed with a rise too :D
 
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