Hba1c very low but readings very high

[CourtGirl]

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed approximately 10 years ago. I have never really experienced any serious problems, in fact have never had symptoms. The most I've ever taken is 2 metformin.
My last HBA1c was 39. The best for a while. My glucose readings however are through the roof, between 10 and 16. I spoke to my nurse who is very puzzled.
My sleep has got very bad and I've no idea what is going on.
As an aside on and off I suffer with dull ache in my ear, throat and painful nerve pain on my scalp.
I feel all this is related.

 

[grovesy]

Well from some lack of sleep does not help, have you got an infection brewing as that too will not help. Many find raised Blood Sugars can indicate a brewing illness.
Was the HBAC1 recent?

 

[Kaylz]

Are you testing often?
xx

 

[CourtGirl]

Yes the test was two weeks ago. I'd phoned my nurse as my readings were very high (testing at home is new to me, I don't normally test) which is why she wanted a HBA1C.

I am testing 4 times per day on the nurse's instructions. Last night before bed it was 16.4 and this morning it was 10.

 

[Kaylz]

Hmmm, 4 times a day isn't really enough to make any comments on

What had you had for tea last night?
xx

 

[CourtGirl]

Hmmm, 4 times a day isn't really enough to make any comments on

What had you had for tea last night?
xx

Gosh, 4 times feels like a lot!
I am vegan and last night had a black bean chilli in tacos.

 

[Felinia]

The usual testing protocol is: immediately on rising; immediately before and 2 hours after each meal; immediately before bed. Also if you have to get up during the night for the toilet. I suggest you keep the records for a couple of weeks, along with a food diary, and give them to your nurse. It might show a pattern.

 

[Kaylz]

So quite a carb heavy meal then?
xx

 

[CourtGirl]

The usual testing protocol is: immediately on rising; immediately before and 2 hours after each meal; immediately before bed. Also if you have to get up during the night for the toilet. I suggest you keep the records for a couple of weeks, along with a food diary, and give them to your nurse. It might show a pattern.

Thank you.

My major bewilderment is the low HBA1C compared to the very high daily readings. Seems very peculiar.

 

[CourtGirl]

So quite a carb heavy meal then?
xx

Yes, very carby. As a vegan my meals tend to be carb heavy. Since going totally vegan my HBA1C has dropped from 65 to 39. That is the bit I just don't understand, how my results are so low but my readings so high.

 

[Kaylz]

So your eating carb heavy meals even though carbs are what diabetics struggle to tolerate? And the high readings are proving that you aren't tolerating them too well at all?

There are some conditions etc that can cause a false low hba1c reading such as anemia etc
xx

 

[Docb]

I can understand why your nurse is puzzled. The HbA1c reading suggests that over the last three months or so your blood glucose levels have been well below the numbers you are recording now.

I do not think you have much option other than to keep on testing for a few days to get a better picture of what is going on. I would do some tests comparing blood glucose before meals with two hours after and then have another conversation with the nurse or your GP if your spot readings remain high. Something is going on and you need to get to the bottom of it.

 

[CourtGirl]

So your eating carb heavy meals even though carbs are what diabetics struggle to tolerate? And the high readings are proving that you aren't tolerating them too well at all?

There are some conditions etc that can cause a false low hba1c reading such as anemia etc
xx

So you think the HBA1C might be incorrect/false?

I am not sure but I think a full blood count is included in my regular checks but as metformin can impact anemia I will check with my nurse. I had heard a similar thing thing, but apparently anaemia leads to higher hba1c results not lower.

 

[CourtGirl]

I can understand why your nurse is puzzled. The HbA1c reading suggests that over the last three months or so your blood glucose levels have been well below the numbers you are recording now.

I do not think you have much option other than to keep on testing for a few days to get a better picture of what is going on. I would do some tests comparing blood glucose before meals with two hours after and then have another conversation with the nurse or your GP if your spot readings remain high. Something is going on and you need to get to the bottom of it.

It is most peculiar and my nurse was very puzzled. I've lost around 2 stone and still going down and my exercise has increased. She was delighted with the results until I told her about my readings.

 

[Ljc]

Hi.
Dueto the symptoms your having, with your ear, headaches etc I am wondering if you have an infection, which often raises our BG levels ,sometimes quite drastically.

As the Hb1ac tests covers the past 12 or so weeks, where your self testing is showing what your level is at the time , so it’s quite possible to have a good Hb1ac whilst you have high BG levels on your meter.
I don’t seem to be explaining myself very well sorry.
If it is an infection accusing raised BG levels , they will go down after theinfection has clearedup.

I suggest you get your ear ,throat etc checked out in case it’s an infection causing all your problems, tbh I think think this is highly likely.

 

[Docb]

It is most peculiar and my nurse was very puzzled. I've lost around 2 stone and still going down and my exercise has increased. She was delighted with the results until I told her about my readings.

How long have you been testing?

 

[CourtGirl]

How long have you been testing?

I've just checked and purchased the monitor on 22nd August. I tested intermittently, not seriously during first two weeks, but the readings were high (they've got even higher). So I guess my numbers have been going up since then. My HBA1C test was around 2.5 weeks ago.

 

[CourtGirl]

Hi.
Dueto the symptoms your having, with your ear, headaches etc I am wondering if you have an infection, which often raises our BG levels ,sometimes quite drastically.

As the Hb1ac tests covers the past 12 or so weeks, where your self testing is showing what your level is at the time , so it’s quite possible to have a good Hb1ac whilst you have high BG levels on your meter.
I don’t seem to be explaining myself very well sorry.
If it is an infection accusing raised BG levels , they will go down after theinfection has clearedup.

I suggest you get your ear ,throat etc checked out in case it’s an infection causing all your problems, tbh I think think this is highly likely.

I'm wondering that too. I mentioned to the nurse I felt waves of heat and she immediately sent me for a covid test. Thankfully negative. It might be a low grade infection that's hanging around.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Your HbA1c is excellent @CourtGirl

But I can understand the confusion if the BG fingersticks you are taking are so much higher than your HbA1c might suggest.

Have you had several low A1cs, or was the most recent one unexpectedly low for you?

I suspect you will just have to watch and wait and collect more information for a while longer to try to make sense of it?

It may well be helpful to shift the timing of some of your Bg checks to allow for ‘before and after’ checks around your mealtimes if you are keeping to 4x a day so that you can see the effect of different meals at different times of the day. These pairs of BG values give you clearly actionable information to try experimenting with different types and amounts of carbs, rather than just ‘background’ information.

Let is know how you get on

 

[helli]

@CourtGirl are you able to test your meter is reading correctly?
Do you have access to another meter to check it against or any testing solution?
It could be worthwhile ruling out a faulty meter in case you are worrying unnecessarily.