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

July 07, 2011 14:46

Garry DAFNE Graduate
North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust 328 posts

Good news. Well done. Now keep the faith until the next HbA1c result. Smile
Regards
Garry

September 24, 2011 08:55

Nikki H-C DAFNE Graduate
Croydon NHS 23 posts

I know this thread is a few months old but I thought it might be the right place to pose this question....

A hypothetical question....
Lets say I started my day with BS of 6
I then eat / drink carbs every 2 or 3 hours through out the day
I know I have the correct ratio's and inject the correct QA for the carbs I've had, so techinally I should come back down to a BS or 6.

Because i've had carbs before my QA has "run out/worn off" i.e. within the 4 / 5 hours it lasts for, will my HBA1c reflect where my levels will end up or where they have actually been through out the day?

September 25, 2011 19:19

marke Site Administrator
South East Kent PCT 681 posts

Nikki, thats not how HBA1c works. It is a measure of the glucose attached to haemoglobin in the blood. This process occurs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You measure your blood glucose 4 times in 24 hours probably, thus what you see is only a very brief snapshot of what your BG is doing. So basically the two things do different things. The HBA1c is to let your diabetes team see what your BG has been doing on average for the last 3 months, the BG tests are telling you if your insulin intake is correct. Both are important but probably the blood tests are more important because if you are doing them regularly then you should pretty much know your HBA1c is going to be ok even if you don't know exactly what it is. There is also the fact that HBA1c is not 100% accurate and becasue its is an average your BG could have been 10+ half the day and 4- for the rest of the day giving an average in 'range'.
Sorry but life is never that simple Very Happy

July 07, 2011 14:46 Garry DAFNE Graduate North Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust 328 posts	Good news. Well done. Now keep the faith until the next HbA1c result. Regards Garry
September 24, 2011 08:55 Nikki H-C DAFNE Graduate Croydon NHS 23 posts	I know this thread is a few months old but I thought it might be the right place to pose this question.... A hypothetical question.... Lets say I started my day with BS of 6 I then eat / drink carbs every 2 or 3 hours through out the day I know I have the correct ratio's and inject the correct QA for the carbs I've had, so techinally I should come back down to a BS or 6. Because i've had carbs before my QA has "run out/worn off" i.e. within the 4 / 5 hours it lasts for, will my HBA1c reflect where my levels will end up or where they have actually been through out the day?
September 25, 2011 19:19 marke Site Administrator South East Kent PCT 681 posts	Nikki, thats not how HBA1c works. It is a measure of the glucose attached to haemoglobin in the blood. This process occurs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You measure your blood glucose 4 times in 24 hours probably, thus what you see is only a very brief snapshot of what your BG is doing. So basically the two things do different things. The HBA1c is to let your diabetes team see what your BG has been doing on average for the last 3 months, the BG tests are telling you if your insulin intake is correct. Both are important but probably the blood tests are more important because if you are doing them regularly then you should pretty much know your HBA1c is going to be ok even if you don't know exactly what it is. There is also the fact that HBA1c is not 100% accurate and becasue its is an average your BG could have been 10+ half the day and 4- for the rest of the day giving an average in 'range'. Sorry but life is never that simple