IS THERE A SAFETY NET FOR HbA1c?

[Wirrallass]

There's a few here reporting HbA1c as low as the 30's. Can it go any lower? I was dx on 42 last year but endeavouring to reduce this number even further. Can it actually reach zero - has this ever occurred and if so what are the consequences?

 

[mikeyB]

Well, for people without diabetes the normal range is 4-5.5%. (You can work out the translation). I don't think it is physically possible to get it below that level if you eat anything at all, because most of it ends up as glucose anyway. I don't know why anybody would want to get it lower - it's a perfectly normal, harmless element of blood. It's worth remembering that. It's only when it goes higher it's a problem.

That doesn't answer your question about consequences of getting it lower. But if you try it, you'd probably end up dead before you got there.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I think 4% would be around 20mmol/mol.
5.5% is 37mmol/mol.

Don't forget that you need a certain amount of glucose in the blood stream for the brain and body to function.

As fas as I'm aware it could not possibly be 0, as you would need to have no glucose in your bloodstream and you could not survive.

 

[trophywench]

You'd be dead anyway if it were 20 Mike! How long after you are dead, can they draw blood? LOL

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

You'd be dead anyway if it were 20 Mike! How long after you are dead, can they draw blood? LOL

Just translating from 'normal is 4-5.5%' from MikeB's post.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

I think 4-5.5 is the fasting reading range of a healthy non-diabetic rather than the HbA1c range, isn't it? Healthy non-diabetic HbA1c range is supposed to be 26-43, or 30-45, depending on where you get your information (I've had test results back with each of those given as normal range).

But either way, I'm surprised you were diagnosed on 42, @wirralass, because that's within normal range. I thought people were usually diagnosed if over 48.

 

[Wirrallass]

I think 4-5.5 is the fasting reading range of a healthy non-diabetic rather than the HbA1c range, isn't it? Healthy non-diabetic HbA1c range is supposed to be 26-43, or 30-45, depending on where you get your information (I've had test results back with each of those given as normal range).

But either way, I'm surprised you were diagnosed on 42, @wirralass, because that's within normal range. I thought people were usually diagnosed if over 48.

Thank you Juliet. You're not the first person to say this to me and I've often wondered myself if I was misdiagnosed - and even if I was misdiagnosed it actually made me sit up & take stock as to my weight - diet and exercise regime.

I wasn't particularly overweight at that time as I had already started dieting 3months earlier and to date I have lost 1st 10lbs and which has plateaued at 9st 11lbs. Attending an X-Pert diabetes education programme - and becoming a member on this forum brought it home to me as to reducing the carb intake - so if anything I have learned much from a *potential misdiagnosis*

Time to speak with my GP if and when I can get an appointment! Thanks again & take care x
WL

 

[Wirrallass]

Well, for people without diabetes the normal range is 4-5.5%. (You can work out the translation). I don't think it is physically possible to get it below that level if you eat anything at all, because most of it ends up as glucose anyway. I don't know why anybody would want to get it lower - it's a perfectly normal, harmless element of blood. It's worth remembering that. It's only when it goes higher it's a problem.

That doesn't answer your question about consequences of getting it lower. But if you try it, you'd probably end up dead before you got there.

Thank you MikeyB - in view of what you say I don't think I'll try to lower my HbA1c too much more as I'm not planning on going anywhere just yet! Take care x
WL

 

[Wirrallass]

I think 4% would be around 20mmol/mol.
5.5% is 37mmol/mol.

Don't forget that you need a certain amount of glucose in the blood stream for the brain and body to function.

As far as I'm aware it could not possibly be 0, as you would need to have no glucose in your bloodstream and you could not survive.

Thank you Mike - so am I correct in saying that 37 is a *safe* number to aim for should I wish to reduce my HbA1c - but no lower? My last seven days waking average was 6.2mmol - I've never actually worked out my weekly waking average before but my numbers over the last few months have mostly been in the 5's & 6's with the occasional 4. Going for bloods next week for my HB1AC so this result will be interesting! Thanks again Mike, take care.
WL

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

37 sounds a good number to aim for, right in the middle of healthy range - I'd be delighted if my HbA1c ever got down to 37! You could safely aim lower, but there's no particular need to do so.

 

[Amigo]

Thank you Mike - so am I correct in saying that 37 is a *safe* number to aim for should I wish to reduce my HbA1c - but no lower? My last seven days waking average was 6.2mmol - I've never actually worked out my weekly waking average before but my numbers over the last few months have mostly been in the 5's & 6's with the occasional 4. Going for bloods next week for my HB1AC so this result will be interesting! Thanks again Mike, take care.
WL

I'd be amazed if your Hba1c is over 37 this time wirralass. I've no idea why you were diagnosed at all with a Hb of 42. Over 41 is pre-diabetes but my GP would haven't dx me at that level and you don't seem to have the associated risk factors (unless there's a strong genetic disposition towards type 2 of course).
Don't blame you for keeping an eye on things and eating more healthily but I don't think you have a great deal to be concerned about with your levels.