[chinku]

hello everyone,

My first A1C test will be this monday and I am wondering if I have to Fast before the actual A1C test.

My Dr is a General Dr not an Endo and he did not mentioned any thing abt fasting.

So far my machine shows

14 day average: 126 mg/dl
30 Day average 134 mg/dl

I have been testing 8 times a day i,e before meal and 2 hrs after meal.

How much can I expect my A1C level?

Can anyone please suggest the precautions or condition I need to be on the day for A1C test (My appointment is at 2pm)

thanks,
Chinku (Type1 Dx 01/01/2007)
Lantus-25 U at night
Humolog- 25 U (total/day)

Appreciate ur help/cpmments

[tanyatype1]

Hi Chinku! I fast for 10 hours minimum, only if I'm getting a complete blood work up done (cholesterol, tryglycerides etc) If I'm going in just for the A1C, then I don't bother fasting. If I'm fasting, I always go first thing in the morning, that way the fasting is easier (because I'm asleep for most of it!) Wow, this sounds confusing when I read it, but it makes sense in my own head! LOL! Good luck to you!

[sweetcheeks]

my doc requires me to fast before all blood work, because not do they just test a1c, they test your fasting BG level for that day as well.

[Cia Leah]

My Doc suggested fasting too. Good luck and I'd love to have your averages! Mine are: 7 day-160 and 14 day-158.

Cia Leah
Type 2

[chinku]

Hi All, Thanks for the reply's.

If I am fasting, I should not take any food at least 8 hrs before the test right.

Should I take Lantus at Night then? I usually take 1 time at night (25 U).( I know I can split it that up, but it saves me injecting one more time )

I am afraid that if I take lantus and fast in the morining (my appointment is at 2:00 pm), my BG's would be LOW (May be a Hypo).

I should I have spoken to Dr Clearly abt this, but I am such a foolosh person, I just realized all this today.
(Big D made me Dumb ????????.... may be I am not as sharp as I was .......... )

Once again, thanks for ur valuable suggestions.....

[panda1076]

It's hard to estimate what your a1c will be just knowing your 14 day and 30 day averages since the a1c measures your bg trend over the past 2-3 months (though it is more weighted towards the past month). So I guess it depends what your bg was when you were first diagnosed and how long ago was that?

When I was first diagnosed, my fasting bg was 242 and my a1c was 8.2. Once I started on insulin, I think my 14 and 30 day averages looked liked yours. After 2 months, my a1c was 5.9 and after another 2 months, my a1c was 5.1.

I was shocked (and excited) that mine went down so much so fast. But keep in mind I started at 8.2 and my bg was 242, which is pretty low at diagnosis. And I kept very tight control in my first few months.

Good luck! Let us know what it is when you know.

[chinku]

It's hard to estimate what your a1c will be just knowing your 14 day and 30 day averages since the a1c measures your bg trend over the past 2-3 months (though it is more weighted towards the past month). So I guess it depends what your bg was when you were first diagnosed and how long ago was that?

When I was first diagnosed, my fasting bg was 242 and my a1c was 8.2. Once I started on insulin, I think my 14 and 30 day averages looked liked yours. After 2 months, my a1c was 5.9 and after another 2 months, my a1c was 5.1.

I was shocked (and excited) that mine went down so much so fast. But keep in mind I started at 8.2 and my bg was 242, which is pretty low at diagnosis. And I kept very tight control in my first few months.

Good luck! Let us know what it is when you know.

I wonder what my A1C would have been when I was Dx'ed.

I was admitted to hospital (ICU 2 days), as I was short of breath and I lost 30-40 lb's over an year or two before Dx.

My BG level was 650 mg/dl (Thats what Dr's said it was, when I was in Hospital)

I asked my Dr, abt A1C test after startin on insulin, but he said, its no use as would be obviously very HIGH.

I had to wait three months for my first A1C, which is on this Monday.

[panda1076]

I see. That's interesting that they didn't do an a1c just as part of the lab work, but I guess there was no need since he's right, it would have been really high!

I think you'll go down a lot if you are averaging 135 and even lower. But I wouldn't want to guess and get your hopes up! But here's a chart to help you guess...

The Bernstein Hb-A1c to Average Blood Glucose Conversion Table, in mg/dl and mmol/l

Keep in mind I found a few different charts, and they had different numbers. But this chart matched up to what my doctor told me.

[am1977]

I don't think you have to fast for an A1c... Now if you are getting other lab work done, then, it might be necessary.

Also, great job with the testing... I think you will find that the info it give you will really help you in managing your disease. I think you should expect good results

[tanyatype1]

Originally Posted by panda1076

I see. That's interesting that they didn't do an a1c just as part of the lab work, but I guess there was no need since he's right, it would have been really high!

I think you'll go down a lot if you are averaging 135 and even lower. But I wouldn't want to guess and get your hopes up! But here's a chart to help you guess...

The Bernstein Hb-A1c to Average Blood Glucose Conversion Table, in mg/dl and mmol/l

Keep in mind I found a few different charts, and they had different numbers. But this chart matched up to what my doctor told me.

Hi Panda! That conversion table says that an A1C of 5.5 is "bad"! Am I reading something wrong here? That's crazy!

[Dervish]

Originally Posted by chinku

I wonder what my A1C would have been when I was Dx'ed.

I was admitted to hospital (ICU 2 days), as I was short of breath and I lost 30-40 lb's over an year or two before Dx.

My BG level was 650 mg/dl (Thats what Dr's said it was, when I was in Hospital)

I asked my Dr, abt A1C test after startin on insulin, but he said, its no use as would be obviously very HIGH.

I had to wait three months for my first A1C, which is on this Monday.

That sounds rather familiar, although I waited a couple extra days after getting short of breath (I thought it was just a really bad cold) and got a couple extra days in ICU because of it, plus a bonus visit to the ER.

I've got my first A1c coming up on Tuesday, exactly a month after my trip to the ER. I mentioned that I was a little surprised that my PCP was having one done so soon, since it would obviously be pretty high, and he said that he expected it to be around 12 or 13.

[Dervish]

Originally Posted by tanyatype1

Hi Panda! That conversion table says that an A1C of 5.5 is "bad"! Am I reading something wrong here? That's crazy!

Read the text below the chart. The page's author considers the ADA's recommendation of staying below 7 to border on criminal negligence (complete with a statement which can be read as an implicit accusation that the ADA is conspiring with doctors to create more business for the medical industry by increasing the rate of complications) and that you should be keeping your A1c below 5 instead.

Then he goes off into a discussion of his belief that, by keeping your average BGL below 83 and never allowing it to go over 100, you can slow/halt aging. This discussion also includes recommendations that everyone, even non-diabetics, should check their BGL several times a day and inject insulin if it goes too high. (I didn't read closely enough to catch whether "too high" meant 83 or 100 in this context.)

[chinku]

Hi Panda! That conversion table says that an A1C of 5.5 is "bad"! Am I reading something wrong here? That's crazy!

TanyaType1, I have the same concern, I gave a read abt the "The Bernstein Hb-A1c to Average Blood Glucose Conversion Table, in mg/dl and mmol/l", I see its kind of very hard to maintain A1C of 5 and Under 5, practically, I think its possible if we avoid CARBS all to gether, and stick to a very strict diet...???????, but life does need some enjoyment and I think my aim would be to keep A1C somewhere betweeen 5 and 6 (Close to 6).

And abt aging I dont see a way one would look 16 at age of 60 no matter how one controls the BG.

Dr's say the big D reduces our life by 5-10 years, but who knows how long one will be living?????. (I mean in a positive way)

(Might die in an accident too........ who cares)

[tanyatype1]

Chinku, I agree with you 100%. I am DEFINATELY not a follower/believer in Bernstein - he's over the edge in my opinion. (this could get me in trouble around here LOL!) I like moderation in life. Cheers!

[Cyborg]

I strive to keep my a1c between 5 and 6. I don't believe that a value in that range is bad, in fact just the opposite. I think that Bernstein has many good ideas, but is too extreme and somewhat biased and opinionated at times.