Question about Hba1c and finger pricking testing

[Sharron1]

I am due my Hba1c blood thing soon. I just wondered if there is any major difference between the Hba1c and the regular finger pricking test result? I don't test so much these days but it is usually 5.5-6.5. This will be my third Hba1c. I know the Hba1c is over a three month period whereas the other testing is simply a snapshot.

 

[Mephistophlillie]

There are a couple of calculators online that will convert average blood sugar readings to HBA1c and vice versa.

they’re never going to be 100% accurate, but they’re out there if you google them.

your mileage may vary

 

[Drummer]

Mine don't match. My Hba1c test indicates an average of 7mmol/l and after eating I see numbers in the 6's.

 

[Mephistophlillie]

Mine don't match. My Hba1c test indicates an average of 7mmol/l and after eating I see numbers in the 6's.

I’m sure I’ve read on here somewhere that the calculation is done by a lookup table, rather than a mathematical equation based on 100 people’s readings.

still, it’s a month or so till I go for mine - and my average is suggesting something close to 40 for the next HBA1c. I’ll be a lot happier with something closer to that than the 97 I chalked up in November

 

[Drummer]

When first diagnosed I went low carb and did 91 to 47 in 80 days, without really trying, but have no idea about levels at that time. I was taking metformin and a statin and things are a bit hazy, and I lost the meter I inherited from my mother in law and was using back then. I regard Hba1c as a sort of Schroedinger's cat factor - you only know what it is once you find out what it is.

 

[Sharron1]

There are a couple of calculators online that will convert average blood sugar readings to HBA1c and vice versa.

they’re never going to be 100% accurate, but they’re out there if you google them.

your mileage may vary

Thanks. I had forgotten about that.

 

[Ralph-YK]

I know the Hba1c is over a three month period whereas the other testing is simply a snapshot.

I think that's basically it. HbA1c takes in the full day, for 3 months. Finger prick test is the highlights.

 

[Docb]

You must remember that the two measurements are measuring different things. One is measuring glycated haemoglobin whilst the other is measuring instantaneous blood glucose level. One is related to the other and if you do a lot of finger pricks covering all times of day and take an average then that number can be used to give an indication of HBA1c. What you cannot do is take a one off finger prick reading and infer a HBA1c from that value.

 

[Sharron1]

You must remember that the two measurements are measuring different things. One is measuring glycated haemoglobin whilst the other is measuring instantaneous blood glucose level. One is related to the other and if you do a lot of finger pricks covering all times of day and take an average then that number can be used to give an indication of HBA1c. What you cannot do is take a one off finger prick reading and infer a HBA1c from that value.

Thanks. Probably time for me to think about other stuff non diabetic related