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HBA1c-diagnosed 8th dec
- Thread starter delb t
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Northerner
Admin (Retired)
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- Type 1
I got one done when I was diagnosed, followed by another about 6 weeks later, and then every 6 months since then, but it can vary a great deal. It should be done at least once a year though. 🙂
MeanMom
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Hi
Not a dopey question at all - yes they will probably test Hb watsit again, and depending on how often you go to clinic will do it most visits at least to start with.
We get given a 'self test kit' which you are supposed to take sample yourself and send it to be tested prior to clinic, but I always 'forget' - DSN does it at clinic. The way I look at it, our docs surgery will not take blood from children (say Nurse isn't qualified -only for adults) so how come I'm qualified to do it? I didn't even do O level Biology
😱
Not a dopey question at all - yes they will probably test Hb watsit again, and depending on how often you go to clinic will do it most visits at least to start with.
We get given a 'self test kit' which you are supposed to take sample yourself and send it to be tested prior to clinic, but I always 'forget' - DSN does it at clinic. The way I look at it, our docs surgery will not take blood from children (say Nurse isn't qualified -only for adults) so how come I'm qualified to do it? I didn't even do O level Biology
😱
Medusa
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
what ??? do you mean you have to take a sample from your childs vein??? yourself? is it not possible to get a phlebotomist (is that the right name i normally call em vampires) at hospital to do it? one thing i notice is care seems to vary all over the uk..........
in answer to original post i'm type one and i now only have hba1c once a year prior to my consultant appointment at the hospital but this is because i am fortunate in having fairly good control and am confident and happy with this my consultant did state i could go more often and she advised that twice a year she considers the norm for hba1c test and hopital review
in answer to original post i'm type one and i now only have hba1c once a year prior to my consultant appointment at the hospital but this is because i am fortunate in having fairly good control and am confident and happy with this my consultant did state i could go more often and she advised that twice a year she considers the norm for hba1c test and hopital review
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I'm pretty sure that the "self test kit" mentioned by MeanMom is for taking capillary blood (same type of blood as used in blood glucose meter) but sample is tested for HbA1c, not current blood glucose level.
But I'd be interested to hear from MeanMom waht she means, too - if it really is venous sample, then I can't believe (as a person who has been trained to take venous blood from adults only, not children - and they are different, due to smaller veins and, even more importantly, personality & stage of development / level of understanding, which change with age) they'd expect a parent to take venous blood from their own child - parent is vital for cuddling or holding hand etc, not for stabbing needle into vein, which is always uncomfortable for the person being stabbed, but less so with a more experienced blood taker / phlebotomist / nurse etc.
But I'd be interested to hear from MeanMom waht she means, too - if it really is venous sample, then I can't believe (as a person who has been trained to take venous blood from adults only, not children - and they are different, due to smaller veins and, even more importantly, personality & stage of development / level of understanding, which change with age) they'd expect a parent to take venous blood from their own child - parent is vital for cuddling or holding hand etc, not for stabbing needle into vein, which is always uncomfortable for the person being stabbed, but less so with a more experienced blood taker / phlebotomist / nurse etc.
delb t
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- Parent of person with diabetes
HBA1c
Sorry im not being clear-when we first went from the docs to the childrens hospital bloods were taken- he wasnt kept in as he felt ok!! but dont know if HBA1c was done -no bloods were taken on the next visit -I just didnt want to look daft next week when we go again
Sorry im not being clear-when we first went from the docs to the childrens hospital bloods were taken- he wasnt kept in as he felt ok!! but dont know if HBA1c was done -no bloods were taken on the next visit -I just didnt want to look daft next week when we go again
imtrying
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi
Not a dopey question at all - yes they will probably test Hb watsit again, and depending on how often you go to clinic will do it most visits at least to start with.
We get given a 'self test kit' which you are supposed to take sample yourself and send it to be tested prior to clinic, but I always 'forget' - DSN does it at clinic. The way I look at it, our docs surgery will not take blood from children (say Nurse isn't qualified -only for adults) so how come I'm qualified to do it? I didn't even do O level Biology
wow I never knew that!! I (think) I'd always got mine done at the blood testing place! I couldn't do that to someone else! 😱
delb - I get mine tested once a year, and at other times if needed for specific reasons.
MeanMom
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Woops!
Delb, yes they would/should have done it at Dx but there are other tests they are supposed to do then too (thyroid for one) that they didn't do at Dx for my daughter so suppose there is a chance they didn't. In which case they will do it now I would think
It is blood from tip of K's finger I'm supposed to take - you have to do finger prick and then use little device to suck up quite a lot into the device itself - it's about 5 times amount for BS test I would guess. Like I said I have so far avoided doing it (K has had HBa1c done about 8 times in 2 years since Dx) One reason K never let's me test etc so don't think she would let me take extra blood, Secondly, as I said, far as I'm concerned a qualified person should do it.😡
The proper phlebotomist (?) can't get blood out of K's arm, has to be back of her hand, so my mind boggles at the thought of me having to do that, but no it's 'only' from her finger.
Sorry for off subject slightly, hope your question answered now, delb Xx
Delb, yes they would/should have done it at Dx but there are other tests they are supposed to do then too (thyroid for one) that they didn't do at Dx for my daughter so suppose there is a chance they didn't. In which case they will do it now I would think
It is blood from tip of K's finger I'm supposed to take - you have to do finger prick and then use little device to suck up quite a lot into the device itself - it's about 5 times amount for BS test I would guess. Like I said I have so far avoided doing it (K has had HBa1c done about 8 times in 2 years since Dx) One reason K never let's me test etc so don't think she would let me take extra blood, Secondly, as I said, far as I'm concerned a qualified person should do it.😡
The proper phlebotomist (?) can't get blood out of K's arm, has to be back of her hand, so my mind boggles at the thought of me having to do that, but no it's 'only' from her finger.
Sorry for off subject slightly, hope your question answered now, delb Xx
My son goes to the childrens hospital despite his age (17) and on every single visit he has an HbA1c done. We get given this tiny little sample pot to collect it in, as Copepod said it's from a finger prick, but you have to get a bit more blood. It looks like a mini pencil, with a pointed end where the hole is. You hold that by the drop of blood and it literally sucks it up. You just have to fill it to the top of the slanted bit, probably not much more than half a centimeter, it really is a tiny gadget.
Our hospital have a rapid machine which does it there and then, so we hand it in (or it's done as he is weighed and measured) then within 10 minutes when we see the consultant it is done. He went after 1 month, then 6 weeks later, then 6 weeks after that, then 3 monthly since. It is always done each time and the results discussed.
At diagnosis they didn't only do HbA1c but test for all the things that prove it is type 1, and various other things too. We get letters each time, confirming all test results. At his annual review everything is done again (this time from a proper vein blood sample) and all the results from that confirmed in a letter. Do you get written confirmation after each clinic visit?
Our hospital have a rapid machine which does it there and then, so we hand it in (or it's done as he is weighed and measured) then within 10 minutes when we see the consultant it is done. He went after 1 month, then 6 weeks later, then 6 weeks after that, then 3 monthly since. It is always done each time and the results discussed.
At diagnosis they didn't only do HbA1c but test for all the things that prove it is type 1, and various other things too. We get letters each time, confirming all test results. At his annual review everything is done again (this time from a proper vein blood sample) and all the results from that confirmed in a letter. Do you get written confirmation after each clinic visit?
MeanMom
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent of person with diabetes
Yes, we do Tina, but it is usually not til week before next visit🙄
I usually have to ring about a week after clinic for results of HbA1c, but they phoned me when they found she had underactive thyroid, and also when they wanted to up her thyroid meds.
Do you take the bloods or your son?
I usually have to ring about a week after clinic for results of HbA1c, but they phoned me when they found she had underactive thyroid, and also when they wanted to up her thyroid meds.
Do you take the bloods or your son?
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