Newbies

[Mikeymo]

Hi guys, I'm from Glasgow, I'm 68, I was diagnosed Type 2 in September 2022. I have taken advice from the various courses.
My first blood test was 71.
I changed from eating anything that was on offer to a low carb Spanish, Italian style food, I upped the exercise (mostly walking) and cut down on the beer.
The second blood test was 51 last week third blood test down to 41.I'm a bit lost with the jargon and the various types of testing HbA1c (if the result is 51 how do you work the % age)
I'm happy with the progress but I really don't know what it means in real terms.
I feel I need an X Pert course to understand things better.

 

[Callista]

I think (??) if your HbA1c is down to 41, then you are no longer in the D2 range, but pre-diabetic.

I'm 45, and trying to get down (and out!) before my next Hb test next month, by more exercise and less food overall (ie, losing weight!) and hacking back my carbs.

Sounds like you've made excellent progress since your DX in September.

This is a great forum, and I've learnt loads since joining. Hope you do too!

 

[Leadinglights]

Welcome to the forum
Well done on your result. The HbA1C is a 3 month average of your blood glucose level and your first result at diagnosis was 71 mmol/mol so put you well into the diabetes zone, anything over 47 mmol/mol is a diabetes diagnosis, you second test at 51 mmol/mol showed good progress and your changes were being successful and now the 41 mmol/mol is now at the upper end of normal which is below 42mmol/mol.
However keeping on with what you have been doing will hopefully ensure you do not slip back into old habits and your new lifestyle is for life.
You do not need to convert to % as mmol/mol are the current units used.
As you are new to the forum then have a look at the Learning Zone (orange tab at the top) and also the main site as there is lots of information which may clarify the 'jargon' for you.
But very well done.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Mikeymo

Well done on your terrific progress so far! You must be pleased with how you have turned things around 🙂

As others have said mmol/mol are the new units for expressing HbA1c. If you’d like to convert to old units (%) there‘s a tool in this page

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%).

www.diabetes.org.uk

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome and many congratulations on your fantastic success in pushing your HbA1c down into the normal range from what was quite a high starting point at 71. Wishing you every success in keeping it under 42 or at least under 48 which is the diabetes diagnostic threshold.
Well done!