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Newbie - question about hba1c finger test

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
W

Wild at Heart

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hello,
I'm new to the forum but have had T1 for over 24 years. Hoping to try for a baby soon so seeking support from others in a similar situation. Feeling quite isolated as my experience is differing from friends who have kids/are pregnant as they obviously don't have to worry about diabetes management :(

Have recently moved house and just over a month ago had a blood test done at my new surgery (normal arm blood test) and my hba1c came back as 6.9%. This week I had a hospital appointment with my new Diabetes team who did a finger prick hba1c which came up as 7.4%. I was really surprised at this as my recent hba1cs have all been around 7% and I don't think my sugars have been too bad this month!!

Anyone else experienced this? I told the DSN I didn't trust the machine but she told me that it's calibrated etc etc, but it was a disappointment for me as I'm hoping to start a family.

:confused:
 
Hi Wild at Heart, welcome to the forum 🙂 I have never had a fingerprick HbA1c, but I imagine they have to conform to the same levels of accuracy as an 'armful' test, so perhaps this is just natural variation allowed for within the limits prescribed (in the same way that an ordinary fingerprick blood test can be up to 10% out)? Hopefully, the next one you have will be lower and you will be nearer being able to try for a baby 🙂
 
Wild at Heart said:
Hello,
I'm new to the forum but have had T1 for over 24 years. Hoping to try for a baby soon so seeking support from others in a similar situation. Feeling quite isolated as my experience is differing from friends who have kids/are pregnant as they obviously don't have to worry about diabetes management :(

Have recently moved house and just over a month ago had a blood test done at my new surgery (normal arm blood test) and my hba1c came back as 6.9%. This week I had a hospital appointment with my new Diabetes team who did a finger prick hba1c which came up as 7.4%. I was really surprised at this as my recent hba1cs have all been around 7% and I don't think my sugars have been too bad this month!!

Anyone else experienced this? I told the DSN I didn't trust the machine but she told me that it's calibrated etc etc, but it was a disappointment for me as I'm hoping to start a family.

:confused:
Click to expand...
I don't know whether the Hba1c finger prick test is sensitive to this but I have noticed that the nurse never asks me to wash my hands before doing this test. I wonder if it is a factor?
 
Welcome! When I worked in a hospital or glucose monitors had to be tested to lab controls as well as the machine makers!
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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