Hi guys I was diagnosed with diabetes 15 days ago and have been on Metformin for exactly 2 weeks. Starting on 2 per day and now on 4. I only found out my HbA1c a few days ago and it was high - 12.3. That was recorded 17 days ago from a blood test. Yesterday I finally got a meter. About 2 hours after eating last night it was 5.9 and this morning it was 5.2. Does this big drop from my starting level even sound feasible? I would add I have made fairly substantial dietary changes but still wasn’t expecting such a large drop. I’d appreciate anyone’s thoughts/advice on this. Thanks guys.
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HbA1c levels question
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Eddy Edson
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They're different things. HbA1c doesn't measure blood glucose, like your meter does. Rather it measures something else which can be jnterpreted as a rough guide to yr average blood glucose over the last 2-3 months.
It can be pretty confusing when you're first trying to get your head around things!
Another confusing thing is that different countties use different units. Your 12.3 is actually "12.3%" in the units used in the US, Oz, elsewhere & also in the UK in the olden days. I don't have the conversion in front of me but in nowadays UK units it would be equivalent to something north of 100 mmol/mol.
One of the reasons the UK moved to these units is just that it gives bigger numbers, harder to confuse with the smaller BG numbers you get from your meter.
It can be pretty confusing when you're first trying to get your head around things!
Another confusing thing is that different countties use different units. Your 12.3 is actually "12.3%" in the units used in the US, Oz, elsewhere & also in the UK in the olden days. I don't have the conversion in front of me but in nowadays UK units it would be equivalent to something north of 100 mmol/mol.
One of the reasons the UK moved to these units is just that it gives bigger numbers, harder to confuse with the smaller BG numbers you get from your meter.
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Hi Emma yeah slight blurring on reading close up but that is easing lately. Otherwise vision is normal. I did speak to my doctor and they said that’s most likely to be my low carb diet and that it would be temporary. And it is getting better so hopefully that’s correct. I just can’t believe how much my levels have dropped in such a short space of time. Didn’t sound possible to me but thanks for your reply.
Morning @DM101.
As @Eddy Edson explained, HbA1C is measuring something else.
In addition it is providing an estimate.
The 5.2 you see on your meter is one moment in time. It does not provide any indication of how high your levels peak when you eat carbs and how long they stay there.
As @Eddy Edson explained, HbA1C is measuring something else.
In addition it is providing an estimate.
The 5.2 you see on your meter is one moment in time. It does not provide any indication of how high your levels peak when you eat carbs and how long they stay there.
Sorry I deleted my original message as I thought it sounded a bit scaremongering. Great news that your eyes seem to be doing well. Your numbers are excellent. How many times a day do you plan to test ? Might be helpful to keep a list of foods eaten and readings so that you can gauge better what works for you and what doesn’t. From the sound of it your doing really well and I wouldn’t be surprised it you won’t be taking 4 metformin for too long. How’s the tummy? Metformin can have some unwanted side effects. Hope your not suffering those. Xx
Windy
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Hi @DM101 I've looked it up, and your 12.3% HbA1c would be 111mmol/mol.
You look like you're doing well with your diet and fasting/post meal blood glucose readings. Keep it going!
Sarah
Eddy Edson
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No, the 12.3 HbA1c and the 5.2 glucose meter reading are completely different things.
But look: maybe more relevant to y question, an HbA1c of 12.3% is very high ("normal" is 6.0% or less; or 5.7% if you're in the US). It doesn't sit very comfortably with the BG meter readings you're getting, in the 5's, which are completely "normal".
Theoretically it could happen if you were spiking big & long between those 5's ... but nah, don't think that's very realistic.
Alternatively, some blood conditions like different anemias can make yr HbA1c reading higher (or lower) than it "should" be.
Best suggestion: talk to your doc about it! Nobody here is really qualified to solve this mystery.
Thanks everyone for your replies. I managed to get to speak to someone about this and the feeling seems to be that it does sound unusual for such a big reduction in my levels over such a short time and that I may have to get another blood test but to continue monitoring and stick to my diet and medication in the meantime. If I eventually get to the bottom of it I’ll add another post in. Thanks all 🙂
trophywench
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But, I thought these days, they have to do another 'armful of blood sent off to the lab to test', to ensure there isn't anything iffy about the first one - before confirming you have diabetes. So, had you already had another test before the one where you were diagnosed - or have they arranged for you to have a repeat pretty soon in view of the conversation?
Lucyr
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No they can diagnose from one blood sample if you have symptoms of diabetes. They only have to test twice if no symptoms.
So doesn’t sound like there’s any doubt the poster has diabetes but that the level is coming down nicely.
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Welcome to the forum @DM101
There’s a write-up about what the HbA1c measures, and what it can mean here if it helps
www.diabetes.org.uk
As others have said, it is related to, but not the same as your fingerprick checks. Fingerpricks show a single moment in time and are measured in mmol/L. The HbA1c is a sort of summary of how all those fingerprick results (and everything in between) have affected the red blood cells in your body, so effectively it gives a picture of what your blood glucose has been like over 3-4months. HbA1c results used to be given in %, but are now given in mmol/mol.
The page I linked to has a converter from old units to new units of HbA1c. There isn’t a direct way to convert fingerprick values to an equivalent HbA1c, but there are some formulae that can give an estimate/indication from an average of multiple fingerprick results.
There’s a write-up about what the HbA1c measures, and what it can mean here if it helps
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c is your average blood glucose (sugar) levels for the last two to three months. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below. If you're at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%).
As others have said, it is related to, but not the same as your fingerprick checks. Fingerpricks show a single moment in time and are measured in mmol/L. The HbA1c is a sort of summary of how all those fingerprick results (and everything in between) have affected the red blood cells in your body, so effectively it gives a picture of what your blood glucose has been like over 3-4months. HbA1c results used to be given in %, but are now given in mmol/mol.
The page I linked to has a converter from old units to new units of HbA1c. There isn’t a direct way to convert fingerprick values to an equivalent HbA1c, but there are some formulae that can give an estimate/indication from an average of multiple fingerprick results.
I understand that the blood test result was an average of months of data effectively and that my meter results are a snapshot but it is still in the same units so they are comparable in a way. My point was that my blood test result was 12.3 so to get a snapshot value of 5.2 2 weeks later is unusual I would say as I would have expected it to be in the same ballpark but it’s dramatically lower.
I’ve been advised that it is unusual anyway so I’ve got to follow it up with my GP but will probably take a while to get to the bottom of it but I’ll add to this when/if I get some sort of resolution. Thanks all for your contributions. Been really useful.
I’ve been advised that it is unusual anyway so I’ve got to follow it up with my GP but will probably take a while to get to the bottom of it but I’ll add to this when/if I get some sort of resolution. Thanks all for your contributions. Been really useful.
Leadinglights
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NO they are not the same units. HbA1C is in mmol/mol and spot tests from your monitor are in mmol/l so very different units.
Eddy Edson
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So maybe the 12.3 wasn't actually an HbA1c of 12.3% but say a fasting glucose test 12.3 mmol/L from the lab?
Whatever, I'm sure the OP will get things sorted eventually.
Windy
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I can recommend taking a notepad and pen with you and a list of any questions you have for the diabetic nurse.
Hope it all goes ok for you tomorrow 🙂 Sarah
Lucyr
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I can get a fingerprick blood of 12 and 5 within less than an hour apart, your blood sugars are constantly changing.
Well I have my appointment later so I’ll update later but thanks to @Leadinglights for pointing out my mistake with comparing the 12.3 number I was told about from my blood test and my meter reading of 5.2 (it has been 5.2 every day by the way). I have now found a converter that translates the hbA1c percentage to the mmol/L value I’m getting from my meter. Ignoring the snapshot factor my 12.3 figure equates to 17 mmol/L so the fact it is now 5.2 within 2 weeks, now I know why it has been deemed unusual.
But anyway I will update this again later. Thanks again for everyone’s help.
But anyway I will update this again later. Thanks again for everyone’s help.
Leadinglights
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I think I may have confused you more, as if 12.3 in in % and that is from an HbA1C that converts to 111mmol/mol which is the current standard that HbA1C results should be quote in.
You could only ever get an approximate guesstimate of what finger prick spot test results you might expect from a particular HbA1C.
When you have your appointment try to get some clarification as to exactly what the 12.3 result was.
It is quite a good idea to have a list of questions you want to ask as it is easy to forget something you meant to ask.
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