[Patient254]

Well, my A1C went up from 5.4 to 5.8. Hmmm, need to buckle down.

[Olidus]

Originally Posted by Patient254

Well, my A1C went up from 5.4 to 5.8. Hmmm, need to buckle down.

I think you are being a lil harsh on yourself. 5.8 IMO is still really good and tight control. Everything that I read anything below 6 is the non-diabetic range.

From me to you - Grats on the great numbers

[davef]

Originally Posted by Patient254

Well, my A1C went up from 5.4 to 5.8. Hmmm, need to buckle down.

I'll swap my 6.1 for you 5.8!

Olidus is right, that's a nice number to have. If you feel you want it lower then go for it, but do allow yourself a pat on the back for staying in the 5's !

[REDLAN]

I personally wouldn't worry about a change of 0.4 in A1c.

The latest machines when new and properly calibrated will vary by around +/- 0.1% on a calibrated sample.

In the field when used on real people, variations of around +/- 0.3% are more common.

This poster below had an increase in A1c of 0.7% in 2 A1c tests just 3 days apart.

Just how accurate is a1c anyway???

There is also some useful discussion that follows about accuracy of A1c tests.

Essentially, an A1c of 5.4 and 5.8 mean that there has been no/little change in your control.

[gettingby]

I, and my endo, would be ecstatic if I had your A1C.

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by Patient254

Well, my A1C went up from 5.4 to 5.8. Hmmm, need to buckle down.

Isn't everything bigger in Texas? You should be ecstatic!

Great job!

[Stuboy]

i wouldn't be too worried about that!! i dont think you can expect to get the same or better every single time you have an A1c...

[Tattoo azz]

What are you worried about? 5.8 is great control, go out and celebrate! You've come from 9.0 in '07 to 5.8, stop panicking, this is brilliant. You should be proud.

[BrianSCohen]

Patient,

Those are both good HbA1cs, I would not worry about the difference. I actually found that after diagnosis, I got my HbA1c down to 5.9% and lower with little effort, but after a year or so, it started to creep up. This was despite markedly improved daily test readings. Over time, I've come to believe that as my control improved my health improved and my red blood cells became healthier, living longer and in higher concentrations. I thus have a distorted HbA1c.

Along the way I also learned that the HbA1c test has some variance as noted above as well as some known dependencies. Anemia or its reverse, polycythaemia is known to cause improper low and high readings respectively. Also, it has been found that some people have different glycation rates, and that while their HbA1c may be fairly consistent, test to test, the readings may be vary from average blood sugar readings or fructosamine tests by as much as 20%.

Use the HbA1c as a general guiding light, but don't put too much faith in the specific value. You, however, have an outstanding HbA1c, even if it may be off by 20%.

[art]

my A1C went from 6.0 to 6.5
It really doesn't bother me but "She Who Must Be Obeyed" has decreed I cut out snacks.

5.8, I'd be in heaven

Art

[bryan42]

Originally Posted by davef

I'll swap my 6.1 for you 5.8!

Olidus is right, that's a nice number to have. If you feel you want it lower then go for it, but do allow yourself a pat on the back for staying in the 5's !

Ill swap you for your number PLUS, throw in a tank of gas!!

[papajohncutter]

I'll get my current A1C in a week or so at my next Doc visit. One thing I've found is that the occasional spike in a reading or letting stress over the small stuff can raise things either temporarily or if you don't control your stress, it can keep you slightly elevated or more. It's not just what you eat. Look carefully at the way you feel about things and train and I mean that... train yourself to take it easy in your thoughts... it does help.

[Patient254]

I have been told I am anemic. My rheumatologist told me to go get checked out again. I've had an upper and lower endoscopy to check for possible reasons for anemia. My most recent blood results were very off on my hemoglobin. My rheumatologist wants me to see my internist because of this. I wonder if it could be somewhat related.

Interesting responses, guys! Thanks for the pep talk.

[BrianSCohen]

Patient254,

You need to be aware that anemia can cause signifcant distortions in HbA1c. A better test if you have anemia would be fructosamine. Have your blood sugar readings been consistent with a HbA1c of 5.8%? Trust your meter readings at this time, if you are showing 200 mg/dL fast levels, don't be lulled into believing your are actually at 5.8%. Best of luck getting your anemia straightened out.

[Patient254]

No. That's just the thing - my meter readings have been very consistent and low. That's another reason why I was so surprised that it went up .4. Thanks again for the information.