Choice A1C Home Test....

[Georgia]

Hi All

I did a Choice A1c home test just now and it was 8.6% - is that really bad? Is it suppose to be between 4 & 7?

Does that mean my average is 8.6 mmol or will it be higher than that?

Gawd I'm confused - see the doctor in 3 weeks so I don't have long to get it down. I want to discuss starting a family & will be so upset if he doesn't give us the go ahead soon.

Thanks

[JediSkipdogg]

An 8.6 A1C is equal to 206 mg/dl or 11.4 mmol. Yes, that is bad. But also keep in mind those units are not 100% accurate. I've heard if you don't follow the instructions and do it exactly like it says you can get a very different result. I diabetic should be between 5-7 although 5-6 is recommended. Why would you need the go ahead to start a family? Or are you talking about causing the baby to have complications with a high A1C?

[Georgia]

Thanks JediSkipdogg

Oh no that's not good to hear - feel gutted.

Yes, I want to wait until we get the go ahead from the doctor as I know that if you're not controlled the baby has more chance of developing abmormalites.

[Cinnabon]

How have your tests been with your meter?

[duck]

Hey Georgia, you don't have to wait to see the doc to start getting it down. Start a journal with everything you eat--think of it as an intense diary, keeping track of what you are eating, your blood sugar readings, your mood(s), things that are going on around you. It will help you diagnose that which ails you and that which works for you.

[byu barry]

I use the Choice hba1c monitors about every two months. My readings are usually + or - 0.2 when compared with the laboratory. I have heard a few times that you need to follow the instructions carefully but they seem to be pretty simple to me.

Yes the reading should be a two to three month average of your BG levels.

I'm just curious..What numbers are you seeing in your normal everyday testing? If your finger stick readings are not agreeing with the hb1ac result you may be having night time highs. I'm sure some of the T 1s on this board will be able to help you sort it out.

[Georgia]

Per my metre my last 7 day average is 6.8 & my last 14 day average is 7.7. I do tend to run high first thing in the morning & think I am running high during the night. I want to discuss with my doctor changing insulin as am currently on pre-mix & have hypos mid afternoon. I do keep a log of how much insulin/food/bs etc.

Thanks everyone.

[EdnBama]

Hi All

I did a Choice A1c home test just now and it was 8.6% - is that really bad? Is it suppose to be between 4 & 7?

Does that mean my average is 8.6 mmol or will it be higher than that?

Gawd I'm confused - see the doctor in 3 weeks so . I want to discuss starting a family & will be so upset if he doesn't give us the go ahead soon.

Thanks

Hi, Georgia ...

Just a point of note ... when you said "I don't have long to get it down" ... I wasnt sure you if mean you you need to get your overall glucose levels down in 3 weeks (which, it seems, would be advisable) or if you think you can get the A1C level down in that time period ... which probably is unattainable unless your 8.8 reading was based on high bg levels 60-90 days ago AND you are able to get, in the next 3 weeks, bg levels considerably lower than your average over the last 90 days.

I know some folks who wanted to have children but couldn't due to infertility problems and another person who had to watch what she did with pregnancy because of medicine she takes for rheumatoid arthritis.

I hope things work out so you reach a point where you and your doctors feel comfortable with your getting pregnant. Children are indeed a blessing and a joy.

[duck]

Egad. Georgia, I forgot that you were on pre-mix. Get off that ****--for you and your baby.

[JediSkipdogg]

I agree with duck. That pre-mix is most likely why you have a high A1C. Premix also controls what you can do in a day, you live by the insulin, not the insulin living by you.

[Georgia]

Thanks guys for your posts. So, say if I go on 2 separate insulins (instead of the pre-mix) that will probably mean I have to wait a few more months until I get stable before we can actually start trying for a baby, right? I know it makes sense but the waiting is killing me. :)

[JediSkipdogg]

Yeah, you would still have a few months to wait. But if you ever got lower than an 8 on premix I'd be amazed. Plus on premix if you have to eat cause of the baby it could really make it tough on you. I would say you'd have a 2 month waiting period for adjustment once you get off premix. But I'm not an expert and that's just a guestimate.

[Georgia]

Thanks JediSkipdogg - will see what the doctor says when I speak to him. I guess a couple of more months to get stable on the 2 separate insulins will be worthwhile.

:)

[JediSkipdogg]

Thanks JediSkipdogg - will see what the doctor says when I speak to him. I guess a couple of more months to get stable on the 2 separate insulins will be worthwhile.

:)

I'm glad to see you waiting until you have more stable results. That shows that you are a responsible person. I know too many people (not all diabetics) that would just have the kid and hope it turns out alright. Good luck with it, and when you do have one (hopefully in a year from now) we want lots and lots and lots of pictures.

[Georgia]

Absolutely, that's why I want the go ahead from the doctor before we start trying. I have to give the little one the best start possible.

And don't you worry I'll post lots & lots of photos when the time comes as I'll be such a proud mummy!

Thanks again everyone x

[Erin]

Georgia,

I'm pretty sure to have the healthiest baby possible you'd want an A1c at least below 7, but closer to 6. If I were you, I would definitely wait, so I'm glad you seem to be leaning in that direction. You can get you A1c down in a matter of months, a healthy baby is forever (or at least until they turn 18 get all teen angsty and grow a mohawk and decide to join the circus)

I would also suggest switching to two insulins or a pump, because I'm amazed you're able to keep your A1c as low as it is on a mix! I could barely keep it around 8 on NPH and Regular back in the day... Lantus makes it a LOT easier. And also, because that gives you more control, something you'll need when you're hormones are all wonky and you're getting cravings for odd foods and basically just being pregnant! (bunch of my friends are pregnant just now, and I envy them, and admire them, and basically am amazed at how much changes in your body, and how difficult and wonderful being pregnant is... you don't' need the added hassle of non-user-friendly insulin on top of all that!)

Check out: http://www.realitycheck.org.au/babies.htm for more info on dealing with pregnancy and diabetes at the same time.

Good Luck!