A1c

[Jstbcuz]

Can A1c tests be wrong?

[Activity2004 Administrator]

Hi Jstbcuz ,

When you had gotten your A1c result back recently, what did it compare to from the one before last? How high/low was the results? What were your blood sugars for the last few weeks?

[Jstbcuz in reply to Activity2004]

I don't do my blood sugars. My last A1c was 6.7 last July, 6 months before that it was 6. I am blaming Covid. I have not been as active through the last 6 months and there was a medical emergency with my daughter that worried me sick for about a month. That was last month.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Jstbcuz]

Having an A1c at 6.7 is good. You don't want it to go too low or that would be close to under 70 mg/dl all the time and it can cause possible lows. How low does your doctor want your A1c and daily blood sugars to be ( it's different for everyone)?

[Jstbcuz in reply to Activity2004]

I was told A1c below 7 is best. I take Metformin, 1000mg am and 500 mg pm. That is why when it came back this time at 7.5 I freaked out. I have anxiety and things like this makes me anxious. All of my other blood work has came back great.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Jstbcuz]

Yes, you want to get it back down from 7.5 for the A1c, but make sure it doesn't get too low. A too low A1c could cause too many low blood sugar reactions. No one wants that to happen.

[Jstbcuz in reply to Activity2004]

I have never had that happen but thanks for the heads up. Do you have diabetes? Thank you so much for replying. I so appreciate having someone to talk to. 😇

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to Jstbcuz]

Yes, I have type 1 Diabetes and use a CGM along with two types of insulin and a low carb. high protein and gluten free diet. The low carb. high protein diet helps keep the blood sugars nice and even during the day and evening when I sleep usually, but once in a while the numbers tend to spike up or drop suddenly. Since I don't feel lows, I use the CGM and insert a new sensor either when it's the correct day to change them, or if the sensor fails prematurely and then I have to call for a free replacement to be sent out. I'm actually getting a free one sent and it should be here sometime tomorrow before end of day.

You're very welcome! If you have any other questions or just want to talk, please let me know anytime.

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

The A1c measures I’m seeing here are different from the one I’m used to. My number is 47 and I should be 42 or below. Please clarify.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

Are you talking about the 3-4 month blood test or a daily blood test at home? If it's blood testing at home, when you multiply 47x18, you get 376 mg/dl. 42x18 is 756 mg/dl. Please call your doctor and let them know the numbers. Both numbers are high.

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

It’s the 3 month blood test. I saw the diabetes nurse today. My April result was 47, down from 57 in January but not yet getting to the magic 42.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

What have you been eating lately/for the last 3 months? The numbers are going down compared to the April result. Have you eaten anything different?

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

I have been avoiding sugars and high GI carbs. My big weakness however is for red wine which of course has a high sugar content. I also run about 15 miles a week.

Last year this time I got down to 40 and the doc took me off Metformin (after 15 years). But then I went to France for a long holiday. Enough said !! Back on the Metformin treadmill.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

How many carbs. is in the red wine? Some alcoholic drinks have more carbs. than others and can sometimes cause false/fake lows/highs.

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

I don’t actually know. A small 125ml glass is about 100 kcals. That can add up over an evening.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

On the information part of the label, does it say Total Carbs.?

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

No. You’ll get the strength % and a mention of sulphites but not more. I’ll Google carbs in wine.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

Thank you for letting me know that. When you find out the answer on Google, please let me know what the total is.

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

I find 2.6g carbs in 100ml on Google.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

How many times do you refill your cup/wine glass?

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

Wow! That’s telling. Spread over an evening I’d probably have 6 small glasses. So 750 ml = 750 kcals and 19.5g carbs.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

What if you just had one glass twice a week instead of multiple refills each time a night?

[HeavyFoot in reply to Activity2004]

I wouldn’t bother.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

If you cut down the glasses/times to have wine, then the numbers/A1c may go down slightly each time.

[Activity2004 Administrator in reply to HeavyFoot]

Will reply back later when I get back around 3 pm. Please leave a comment anytime.