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HbA1c test

T

Theo

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
At risk of diabetes
It’s 12 months since my HbA1c test which was done at a routine blood test and getting a shock that it came back at 46 . Having no history of diabetes and eating what I thought was a healthy diet. At last my follow up test is next Monday 27th at 10. 30 . I’m tempted to miss breakfast that morning or won’t it make any difference. I’ve really stuck to a low carb diet and followed all the great advice on here about carbs. Lost a stone in weight .
Not that I was that much overweight to start with but I’ve really taken it seriously.
I only have a couple of weetabix and blueberries but I’m so worried that they could make a difference. Or is it taken over the last months which in that case I know I couldn’t have done anymore.
 
Hba1c is an approximate view on how your blood glucose has been over the last three months or so, as that's how long red blood cells live for.
Eating or not eating breakfast on the day won't make any difference 🙂
Congratulations on the weight loss!
 
Don’t worry about skipping breakfast on the morning of the Hba1c blood being taken @Theo

HbA1c measures changes in red blood cells over 3-4 months, so what you have for breakfast that morning won’t significanty alter the result. It’s more a measure of how much glucose has been circulating for several months.

Edit: @Lisa65 types faster!
 
Theo said:
It’s 12 months since my HbA1c test which was done at a routine blood test and getting a shock that it came back at 46 . Having no history of diabetes and eating what I thought was a healthy diet. At last my follow up test is next Monday 27th at 10. 30 . I’m tempted to miss breakfast that morning or won’t it make any difference. I’ve really stuck to a low carb diet and followed all the great advice on here about carbs. Lost a stone in weight .
Not that I was that much overweight to start with but I’ve really taken it seriously.
I only have a couple of weetabix and blueberries but I’m so worried that they could make a difference. Or is it taken over the last months which in that case I know I couldn’t have done anymore.
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It will make absolutely no difference eating breakfast as the test covers what has happened over the previous 3 months.
Hopefully your result will show a good result but if not then you could look at your breakfast if Weetabix is your normal as it is quite high in carbs.
 
I know cereal is higher carb but I love cereals to start my day. Plus the diabetic nurse said they are ok. My thinking is (and I may have got it wrong ) but if I have 2 in a morning which are 26 g carbs this being my highest carb intake of the day then I easily work those off by being at my most active in a morning. The rest of the day I keep a note of carbs in every meal and never get above 100 carbs a day and that includes my weetabix.
 
Theo said:
I know cereal is higher carb but I love cereals to start my day. Plus the diabetic nurse said they are ok. My thinking is (and I may have got it wrong ) but if I have 2 in a morning which are 26 g carbs this being my highest carb intake of the day then I easily work those off by being at my most active in a morning. The rest of the day I keep a note of carbs in every meal and never get above 100 carbs a day and that includes my weetabix.
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That is fine, I was just suggesting if the result was not as expected that would be something to look at but if you have been sticking with less than 100g per day then I would expect all will be good.
 
Thanks . I’m just so keen to do everything right and have taken everything so seriously. As my family tell me they think I’ve taken it too seriously and cutting out too much.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Don’t worry about skipping breakfast on the morning of the Hba1c blood being taken @Theo

HbA1c measures changes in red blood cells over 3-4 months, so what you have for breakfast that morning won’t significanty alter the result. It’s more a measure of how much glucose has been circulating for several months.

Edit: @Lisa65 types faster!
Click to expand...
Thanks for that . Just I was so frightened when told I was pre diabetic . I’ve got to 77 and quite a fit lady eating healthily and walking a lot. Plus running a lge house. I know if my hard work hasn’t payed off then I really can’t do anymore.
 
Theo said:
Thanks for that . Just I was so frightened when told I was pre diabetic . I’ve got to 77 and quite a fit lady eating healthily and walking a lot. Plus running a lge house. I know if my hard work hasn’t payed off then I really can’t do anymore.
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I am pre-diabetic at hba1c 42, got back to normal for 5 years but back up again after last year's test. I had no issues with weight and my GP thinks I have become more insulin resistant as I am getting older. If you are 77 you maybe should not beat yourself up about this. Having said that, I do.

Following a lower carb diet should certainly help but, if you do that, and have lost weight you have done your best. Have you got a meter so that you can check reactions to food? Good luck with your next test. I hope it has come down for you.
 
Thanks for that . This is such an informative forum. I haven’t got a meter but if it’s not come down I’ll certainly look into getting one. Can you just buy them over the counter.
 
Theo said:
Thanks for that . This is such an informative forum. I haven’t got a meter but if it’s not come down I’ll certainly look into getting one. Can you just buy them over the counter.
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You can get them from Boots or Amazon £20 to £30
 
Theo said:
Thanks for that . This is such an informative forum. I haven’t got a meter but if it’s not come down I’ll certainly look into getting one. Can you just buy them over the counter.
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Yes you can. I bought an Accu Check from Boots but the strips are quite expensive. Following advice on here I changed to a Code Free and then a Gluco Navii which I use now. Different people have different ideas about the best ones.

I bought mine from Amazon as could not get them in our local shops in town. The strips are not too bad. £14.99 for 50.

They aren't as accurate as hba1c but they give some idea of what foods suit you. People have different reactions. I don't react to milk but a lot of people do. I recall reading that Michael and Clare Moseley did some research. They would eat the same meal and then test. Michael would find he was less tolerant to a lot of things than Clare as he had more insulin resistance.
 
Theo said:
Thanks for that . This is such an informative forum. I haven’t got a meter but if it’s not come down I’ll certainly look into getting one. Can you just buy them over the counter.
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You can buy over the counter but they can be more expensive and take more expensive test strips but those on line generally are cheaper, GlucoNavii,TEE2 and Contour Blue are ones that people have found satisfactory but it is worth shopping around. It is the cost of the strips that is the main thing to check out as some can be 4x the price of others.
 
Theo said:
Thanks for that . Just I was so frightened when told I was pre diabetic . I’ve got to 77 and quite a fit lady eating healthily and walking a lot. Plus running a lge house. I know if my hard work hasn’t payed off then I really can’t do anymore.
Click to expand...
I take the view that once you get to our age an HbA1c around the diagnosis limit is unlikely to be the worst of things that might be going on as anno domini takes its toll. Me, the DSN and the GP are perfectly content if my HbA1c is below 55 and I can keep it there by watching my carb intake and keeping my weight steady and taking a few pills.

My though for you is not to worry too much, keep up the housework, keep an eye on your weight, get on with life and the stuff you find interesting and look forward to many more annual checks and Hba1c results. 🙂
 
Docb said:
I take the view that once you get to our age an HbA1c around the diagnosis limit is unlikely to be the worst of things that might be going on as anno domini takes its toll. Me, the DSN and the GP are perfectly content if my HbA1c is below 55 and I can keep it there by watching my carb intake and keeping my weight steady and taking a few pills.

My though for you is not to worry too much, keep up the housework, keep an eye on your weight, get on with life and the stuff you find interesting and look forward to many more annual checks and Hba1c results. 🙂
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Inclined to agree with you Docb.
 
Thanks for that. I agree really as I know I’m a worrier and as everyone tells me life’s for living . Even my GP said everything in moderation and to have the occasional treat. I’m just such a worrier and determined to just at least do all I can and then see what Monday brings.
 
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