How can you work out HBA1c by using your BG averages? Is it possible?

23 posts, 9 contributors

Search the DAFNE Online Forums

 
navman2000
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
5 posts

I have heard you can calculate what your HBA1c could be by using a certain formula to calculate it. Any ideas people? Since i have been on DAFNE my BG have been well managed, and always within range, before i had done DAFNE my HBA1c was 11 Sad i am hoping this time round it has improved Smile

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire
1,819 posts

The formula you speak of is:

HbA1c = Average BG (90 day) + 2.52 / 1.583

In all honesty it has always been roughly 0.5% out for me, but it all depends on how many tests you have done each day etc..........in theory if you tested every hour every day for 90 days, then you would have the best chance of getting the prediction/calculation as accurate as possible........however its only an estimate, I dont think anyone expects anything more than that...............

Pre DAFNE I was 11.8, 3 months later I was 8.2.............

Oh, and good luck with your test, I am sure there will be a great improvement................. Wink

navman2000
London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust
5 posts

Thanks... Yeah my overall control since DAFNE has been brilliant, never seen such great BG readings before, always was on the high side of things, and hopefullu this time round HBA1c will have improved from the 11 i had to something a bit more within range Smile

Simon Site Administrator
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
578 posts

Novorapidboi - where did you get this from? I could incorporate it into the Diary on here...

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire
1,819 posts

Simon said:
Novorapidboi - where did you get this from? I could incorporate it into the Diary on here...




Heard it from a few people on other forums, but it is derived from the formula to work out average BG from an HbA1c result...........one of many sources can be found here........

are you saying you could fire those numbers in to the diary and have a an estimated HbA1c, cool...........you would need to stress its only a guess, or a broad estimate.......

Welshmapleleaf DAFNE Graduate
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
19 posts

Hi guys,

Just graduated from DAFNE today!!!! This would be a really cool addition to the analysis on the site!!

I am looking forward to my next set of results (which can only get better!!!) but a bit of a guide to what I can expect would be amazing!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to the forums as I put into practice what I've just learned.....and continue to learn!

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire
1,819 posts

Welshmapleleaf said:
Hi guys,

Just graduated from DAFNE today!!!! This would be a really cool addition to the analysis on the site!!

I am looking forward to my next set of results (which can only get better!!!) but a bit of a guide to what I can expect would be amazing!

Anyway, I'm looking forward to making a meaningful contribution to the forums as I put into practice what I've just learned.....and continue to learn!



Warm welcome from me...............

DAFNE turns round everyones understanding of how to manage the condition, the condition still remains a pain and unpredictable as insulin needs change all the time...........i have upped my activity levels at night and my blood sugars are all messed up now.............

Look forward to hearing how you get on and to discuss any concerns you may have...........

marke Site Administrator
South East Kent PCT
681 posts

Being the cynic of the site and the internet, I would say use this with extreme caution. There are a million sites offering suggestions and ideas as 'facts' all over the internet and most have absolutely no scientific basis for what they say. As Novarapidboi says we would neeed to make VERY clear it is only an estimate NOT based on
any scientific evidence. As ever what works for some may not work for all and so the answer for some may be very accurate whilst for others it may be way off.
The site referenced says its based on CGMS data and indeed if we all had Constant Glucose Montoring Systems ( man that really would be good) the HbA1c results
probably could be calculated reaonably accurately. However with only 4 points of measurement each 24 hours, I don't see how any calculation can be accurate.
I also think that your HbA1c result will not 'really' be a suprise to anyone, if you have been testing regularly so an estimate ( via this calculation ) will only confirm what you all ready know so will be of limited use. But if people do find it useful why not.

Simon Site Administrator
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
578 posts

You're not a cynic - just more careful and thoughtful than me Wink

You're right though - we'd have to put a disclaimer on this, and details of how it was calculated. I would only suggest we do it if there was official research which we can link to which backs it up. Would be easy enough to add the functionality, as we already calculate the 90 day average on the BG diary.

novorapidboi26 DAFNE Graduate
NHS Lanarkshire
1,819 posts

Finding exactly were it came from might be a pain, it is used all the time though, and in fact it has been used in some android apps I have came across were it predicts your HbA1c, but yeah, its only a prediction, and one which has not proved correct for me as yet, but you would need an evenly spread set of results through the day, every day for 90 days to even come close...........and not even me with my constant testing could provide that amount consistently........ Very Happy