Hello all, hopefully someone can advise. Was diagnosed early October with diabetes. Been fairly proactive. Booked foot exam all ok, eye exam all ok, doctor said I had the kidneys of a 20 year old (I'm 66) so again all ok. Upto now I've lost 19 lb . Got a glucose test kit off doctor just to check bloods. My question is the nurse when telling me my initial results said 90, I'm not on Metformin want to see 3 month results (due end Jan) my glucose test results are between 6.8 and 7 (was 7.7) after Xmas meal!. I'm not living a life ruled by tests but want to be sensible. I can't work out what the original 90 equates to? As most are a number dot number example 6.8 mml what does 90 mean is that 9.0? Otherwise I'm ok, cooking healthy checking my carbs etc. Thanks in advance.
-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Advice needed .
- Thread starter SweetAnn
- Start date
- Status
Windy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi SweetAnn, welcome to the forum. There's two different sort of blood sugar measurements, the HbA1c, which is the 90 mmol/mol you were given, this is what was used to diagnose your diabetes. It's the sugar level over the last 3 months, which is from your haemaglobin in your blood.
The other figure, 6.8 or 7 is blood glucose, which is measured in mmol/L. Don't ask me why they're measured in different units!
I googled and found a calculator which shows that a BG of 7 would be equivalent to an HbA1c of 42. So I'm guessing your HbA1c of 90 would have been around 14mmol/L when you were diagnosed.
Well done on the weight loss, that'll be definitely helping to reduce your BG levels. You're doing brilliantly from what you've said, keep going, when you have your 3 month diabetes check, hopefully the nurse will also be happy!
Any questions, ask away, Sarah
The other figure, 6.8 or 7 is blood glucose, which is measured in mmol/L. Don't ask me why they're measured in different units!
I googled and found a calculator which shows that a BG of 7 would be equivalent to an HbA1c of 42. So I'm guessing your HbA1c of 90 would have been around 14mmol/L when you were diagnosed.
Well done on the weight loss, that'll be definitely helping to reduce your BG levels. You're doing brilliantly from what you've said, keep going, when you have your 3 month diabetes check, hopefully the nurse will also be happy!
Any questions, ask away, Sarah
Hello SWEETANN, and welcome to the Forum
WINDY has answered your question very well, but I'll just add to it a bit
The lower number - 6,8 or 7 - is the amount of glucose in your blood at that particular time, and is measured by yourself with a simple home meter and finger prick test
This means you can monitor your Blood Glucose Level, aka Blood Sugar Level throughout the day and see how it varies before & after meals, or with particular types of food, and so on
Thus with a bit of experience you can keep your sugar levels within acceptable limits, or notice any problems
The higher number, 90 in your case, refers to the HbA1c level, and the link explains it
It is an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months or so, and is considered a more realistic or accurate result.
It needs a larger blood sample and can only be done in a hospital laboratory
Your doctor or Diabetic Specialist Nurse will usually ask for you to have this test about every 6 months
As WINDY explains, these results are measured on different scales, which explains the different sorts of numbers
And well done with the weight loss and improved results
WINDY has answered your question very well, but I'll just add to it a bit
The lower number - 6,8 or 7 - is the amount of glucose in your blood at that particular time, and is measured by yourself with a simple home meter and finger prick test
This means you can monitor your Blood Glucose Level, aka Blood Sugar Level throughout the day and see how it varies before & after meals, or with particular types of food, and so on
Thus with a bit of experience you can keep your sugar levels within acceptable limits, or notice any problems
The higher number, 90 in your case, refers to the HbA1c level, and the link explains it
It is an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months or so, and is considered a more realistic or accurate result.
It needs a larger blood sample and can only be done in a hospital laboratory
Your doctor or Diabetic Specialist Nurse will usually ask for you to have this test about every 6 months
As WINDY explains, these results are measured on different scales, which explains the different sorts of numbers
And well done with the weight loss and improved results
Thank you both for your quick responses. I have had a few wobbles but overall want to stay positive. Though some of the stuff on internet is soooo scary and can erode ones hope of diabetes not ruling one's life. Also, the people around you who simplify things by saying ' oh, you can go into remission so don't worry' like it will just go away! So I just nod. Hopefully end January will give me some hope that I'm doing ok. At least my kidneys are great they were' pinging off the screen' ! Was all the penny sweets I enjoyed in my past life lol!!!!!
janw
Much Missed Member.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi and welcome.
It sounds as though you are doing great and, fingers crossed, you will get a pleasant result at your next blood test.
I am not on meds either, doing my best to get into remission by lifestyle changes - diet (eg lower carbs/sugar) and exercise - use the exercise bike, but have been poorly lately so it has gone to pot, I do intend to start over though as it is beneficial in more than one way. My next full check isn't until April, so I have a few months to get right on top of it and get lower still again. I'm just a bit older than you, so we walk a similar path.
Don't take much notice of what you read elsewhere, some of it seems to be written by theorists and not diabetics - unless you walk that path you just cannot understand the complexities of it - it is not in the least bit simple, it is different for everyone. This is THE best place for advice and guidance, for help and support, to share in the wins and find a shoulder for the downs - decades of experience is worth more than anything written on paper, and some info is old and outdated, but here there are plenty who can share their own experiences and guide us on our pathways. Stick with us and you will find your own pathway that suits you the best,
It sounds as though you are doing great and, fingers crossed, you will get a pleasant result at your next blood test.
I am not on meds either, doing my best to get into remission by lifestyle changes - diet (eg lower carbs/sugar) and exercise - use the exercise bike, but have been poorly lately so it has gone to pot, I do intend to start over though as it is beneficial in more than one way. My next full check isn't until April, so I have a few months to get right on top of it and get lower still again. I'm just a bit older than you, so we walk a similar path.
Don't take much notice of what you read elsewhere, some of it seems to be written by theorists and not diabetics - unless you walk that path you just cannot understand the complexities of it - it is not in the least bit simple, it is different for everyone. This is THE best place for advice and guidance, for help and support, to share in the wins and find a shoulder for the downs - decades of experience is worth more than anything written on paper, and some info is old and outdated, but here there are plenty who can share their own experiences and guide us on our pathways. Stick with us and you will find your own pathway that suits you the best,
SB2015
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum @SweetAnn
Firstly well done on the weight loss, which will certainly be helping your levels to come down.
It can be confusing with the two different scales. For the finger prick tests which give you the snap shot reading of your glucose level at any one time. This will rise and fall throughout the day with changes in our carb intake and our level of activity. The HbA1c being in different units, which is likely to have been your initial reading of 90, is the average from the past three months, but it is weighted to the most recent results, so your next HbA1c, with the levels you have been achieving, even after Christmas Day.
You have already made adjustments that are working for you. Keep in touch, ask any questions that you have and you will access a wealth of experience to use to find your own way to manage your diabetes.
Firstly well done on the weight loss, which will certainly be helping your levels to come down.
It can be confusing with the two different scales. For the finger prick tests which give you the snap shot reading of your glucose level at any one time. This will rise and fall throughout the day with changes in our carb intake and our level of activity. The HbA1c being in different units, which is likely to have been your initial reading of 90, is the average from the past three months, but it is weighted to the most recent results, so your next HbA1c, with the levels you have been achieving, even after Christmas Day.
You have already made adjustments that are working for you. Keep in touch, ask any questions that you have and you will access a wealth of experience to use to find your own way to manage your diabetes.
Alan S
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
You have had excellent replies. One extra point which can lead to confusion. If you happen to read advice in any forums with US members be aware that they use totally different units for blood glucose. Instead of millimoles per litre (mmol/L) as used in the UK, Canada, Australia and much of the rest of the world they use milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL). The conversion is roughly 1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dl; if you want to be dead accurate it is 1 mmol/L = 18.018 mg/dl. Some European countries also use mg/dL.
Last edited:
- Status