a1c

[KAPatrick]

Can anyone tell me why they moved the a1c from 7.0 to 6.0..........I am just curious. I was dx'd in October with type 2 and my a1c is 6.2 very careful monitoring of diet. Thanks!!

[princesslinda]

My doctor advised me that the goal of their clinic was that all their diabetic patients be 7% or under A1C wise.

However, I have read recently that they are wanting to make 6% A1C the new 7% for "controlled" diabetics, just as they want 120/80 to be the standard for people who have "controlled" HTN.

This makes sense, considering that the lower our levels, the less likely our chances for complications.

[kgm0612]

ADA's recommendation is 7% or below.
AACE's recommendation is 6.5 or below.

Here's a link that explains a few things regarding the two:
Defending ADA's A1C Target -- Clark 2 (10): 3 -- DOC News (http://docnews.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/10/3)


Karen

[slipperyelm]

In reading the article linked by kgm0612, I was impressed once again with what good control the participants in this website seem to acheive compared to the supposed average.

"only 33% of U.S. patients withdiabetes achieved AACE's recommended glycated hemoglobin (A1C) goal of≤6.5%"
and
"Although there are not good data to tell us the mean A1C in the U.S.,diabetes experts often estimate that it is 8.5–9%."

I appreciate that my doctor has always been supportive in what I _have_ achieved, and matter-of-factly encouraged me to try to do a little _better_. It is rewarding that the lower I have gotten my BG levels and A1c, the better I have felt.

[notme]

My endo would like my A1c no higher than 7.0 and no lower than 6.5. My last A1c was 6.9 and that was....ummmm awhile ago.

[JediSkipdogg]

A 1% drop in A1C values will decrease complications by 40%. A normal non-diabetic has an A1C around 5% (roughly.) Therefore they want you to get as close to that non-diabetic value as possible but at the same time not having lots of lows that could be dangerous under certain circumstances.

I remember the days when a 10% A1C was EXCELLENT.