[Willow]

Hello everyone

My last A1C was 7% exactly & apparently this converts to an Average Plasma Glucose Level of 170. What does this mean?

I know that the A1C is a guide to see how well controlled your glucose levels have been on average for the past 90 days but what is your PGL? I'm confused

[Harold]

When you go to the Doctors office or Lab and have your glucose level checked they do a Plasma Glucose Level check. They do this by centrifuge spinning out the cells and seperating them from the fluid part of our blood then test the plasma. When you use a meter you are checking Whole Blood Glucose level, but most meters are now calibrated to give readings equivalent to Plasma levels. Plasma levels usually run higher than Whole Blood levels which is why on older charts you will see a 7% A1c weighted average equals 150 mg/dl mean average. For myself, using the plasma levels as equal to whole levels just gives me better control.

[camjen1]

Uh yea looks like Harold beat me to it. Very well said, do you have a bit of medical technician in you????? LOL

[Willow]

Thanks Harold. Still a bit confused though I'm afraid - should I be using the A1C of 7% or PGL 170 mg/dl? Its just that I hadn't heard of PGL really before.

[Willow]

Ok been browsing the web on this & found the following info:

"How does your glucose level compare with your HbA1c?

HbA1c levels by coincidence nearly equate to glucose levels. So an HbA1c level of 10% means the average glucose level for the previous 10 weeks was 13mmol/l.

But at lower levels there is even less difference, so an HbA1c of 7% means the average glucose level was 8%.

HbA1c% Average blood glucose level mmol/l
13 18
12 17
11 15
10 13
9 12
8 10
7 8
6 7
5 5"

So it seems that my HbA1C of 7% = an average blood glucose level of 8 mmol/l (not quite as good as I thought). Why does it have to be so confusing though!!

[duck]

Willow: It all fits in together, in my mind. The A1c is just one of many tools we use as diabetics to track our management of this affliction. Your A1c said you are at 7%, which translates to an average of about 170 over the last 90 days...

So where do you go from here? I'd say track your blood glucose readings more often with the goal of getting your A1c lower than 6 in 90 days (which is equivalent to 6.6 mmol/L and would be considered "very well managed" according to Ascensia http://www.ascensia.ca/eng/diabcare/...bin/index.asp).

Months ago I bought one of those Home A1c kits because I hadn't had an A1c done in months...I came out at 7.7. I've been testing monthly since Novemeber and on April 12th I tested at 5.9--I mention this because I think testing every three months is way too few to be able to make "on-the-spot" corrections. If you can afford it, I'd recommend testing monthly if at all possible.

Anyway, don't fret, 7 is not bad reading--in some circles it is the recommended level. But you'll find here on this "tight control" board, the peer pressure is to be in the low-6's high-5's. Just remember A1c is merely another tool in our tool box to help manage our disease--you ultimately control it, and it does not control you.

[Harold]

Oh! Willow I did not look for or notice where you were from, sorry 'bout that. The mg/dl measurements are what we use in the states vs. mmol/L, but since HBA1c is a percentage vs. a unit of measurement the A1c is the same.

Remembered there was a site with some helpfull charts and went looking for them. Found 4 charts 2 are A1c to Plasma and Whole in mg/dl and 2 are A1c to Plasme in mmol/L. Your meter's handbook should tell you if your meter reads in While Blood or Plasme values which you should be aware of. Here's the Links;

A1c to Whole Blood in mg/dl

A1c to Plasma Glucose in mg/dl

A1c to Whole Blood in mmol/L

A1c to Plasma Glucose in mmol/L

Originally Posted by Willow

Why does it have to be so confusing though!!

That's easy! Job security for health care providers. :smartass: