It's official and my HbA1c result

I am Type 2! Great huh! Found out today.

I have had the result of my HbA1c test which was 8.6mmol/l - which, considering I've only been watching what I eat for two weeks, is pretty good and shows that I should be able to, initially, control my diabetes with diet only.

The definition of this test by Diabetes UK is:

"HbA1c (Glycated haemoglobin) and fructosamine
At least once a year, your doctor should check your long term diabetes control by taking a blood sample from your arm. The most common test is the HbA1c test, which indicates your blood glucose levels for the previous 2–3 months. The HbA1c measures the amount of glucose that is being carried by the red blood cells in the body.

If your red blood cells are affected by for example anaemia, sickle cell anaemia or thalasaemia (all of which involve a lack of or abnormal type of haemoglobin – the oxygen-carrying part) then your doctor may carry out a blood test for fructosamine. Fructosamine gives an average result for the previous 14–21 days.

The target for HbA1c is 6.5 per cent or below since evidence shows that this can reduce the risk of developing diabetic complications eg nerve damage, eye disease, kidney disease and heart disease. Individuals at risk of severe hypoglycaemia should aim for an HbA1c of less than 7.5 per cent. However, any reduction in HbA1c levels (and therefore, any improvement in control), is still considered to have beneficial effects on the onset and progression of complications."

That's a relief hun - no daily needles.

Yep, I had to inject when I was gestationally diabetic. I actually prefered the actual injections to the finger stabbing tests - they hurt more, imo!

Doug tested us all a few weeks ago - I'm a real wimp when it comes to needles, but I cut one of my fingers when I was young and severed all the nerves......he used that finger for the pin-prick, I never felt a thing

Jammy sod!

Be careful. I tested a friend at work and he was a bit high. I advised him to see his GP. 3 days later, he came back work, having been diagnosed by type 1.

Not many people asked me to test them after that

Rob

But you did do him a favour, didn't you? It's rubbish, but at least now he can try and control it and potentially live longer!!!

That's why I wanted us all tested. A couple of the kids were a bit high so they're booked in for more thorough tests.

I'd much rather know for sure

Absolutely, it is vital. I mean, if you can control it you can reduce your chances of going blind, losing limbs, etc! Why wouldn't you want to! Although I know ALL about denial!!!

I got it wrong... my result should have shown as 8.6% - not mmol/l. It should be under 7%.

The nurse tickled my feet today. I am still getting over that!

One of the better consultants I've seen reviewed my results, which were about 7.8% or so I think.

He damitted they don't know whether it's better to have a steady set of results about right or soemtimes low, sometimes high, but averaging about right.
They seemed to give a similar HbA1c result though logic would suggest the former is better. I'm more of a wild swinger as far as BS goes. I struggle to keep it consistant.

It's hard getting it steady, isn't it. Do you have set times to eat? Do you snack (healthily, of course)? Do you know what causes yours to be erratic?

I did get some test strips for my machine - which I feel is good, because why shouldn't I test my blood! However, I really had to demand them - they said they didn't think it was worthwhile!!! I really don't know why they think we can do without them. Anyway, if nothing else, I am going to use these strips as a learning exercise for me to see what spikes my BS and what I can eat.

I have lost 6lb already, but I need to lose about a stone and a half more.

Doug's a BIG man but he's been loosing weight steadily for the last couple of years. I took him out a couple of months ago to get him some new trousers (his kept falling down ) - when he was measured for his new stuff he'd lost a foot from his waist .
The weight's still coming off and he's looking much better for it........He can now buy his trousers from "normal" shops instead of "big men" shops.......We're extremely proud of him

His BS levels go from 23 to 9, there's no pattern to it and his diet doesn't make much difference - I think it's mainly down to stress.

You must be proud of him , it's so hard to lose weight and according to my nurse its the weight you lose first - the fat around your tummy, that is the vital one to help with diabetes. 23 is high though! Is he on tablets?

You name it, he's on it......They just can't get it right

Hi

It is great that your hubby is losing weight but with bg levels that high and losing that much weight it could be the high bg levels that are causing him to lose weight which an unhealthy way to lose weight. Sometimes teenage girls with type 1 risk complications later in life by losing weight deliberately this way (they don't take as much insulin as they should). I am 57 so therefore have T2 but I lost lots of weight before being dx. I am down to 7 stone now and although I am only 5ft 0ins tall I don't want to lose any more weight. My HbA1c was 16.0 when diagnosed but last June it was down to 6.0. I think your hubby should see his diabetes specialist a.s.a.p.

He has seen the specialist and they are happy with the way the weight's going.

I'll just add that he was over 25 stone when he was diagnosed

Hi Clare

I have read that losing weight will bring down bg levels and both of these things coming down will make him feel much better too.

Hope he keeps going well.

He feels better mentally, but physically he's not doing very well. The tablets he's on have messed him up big time......and now his circulation's playing up

But, we're getting there.