HbA1c results NOT very good!!!

jjordie · #1 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 05:56 AM

Having just had another blood test (HbA1c and U & Es) - I am told I should now start taking Lisinopril to protect
my kidneys! My blood pressure is fine GP says so I am wondering then why do I need to take Lisinopril.

Also he has increased Metformin again.
I reduced to 500mg x1 as he advised because I am sure it is what is causing hairloss but he says it's definitely
not Metformin.

When I was taking 500mg x1 Metformin - having been reduced from 500 x 3 - as expected my BG went up and
every time I did a blood test it was anywhere between 10 and even 14 at times.
After Hba1c GP said the result was 'fine'. How can it be I said my BGs have been really high.
Not the same he said - but surely they must be some how linked to the results i.e. whether good or not so good!
Anyway, increased Metformin to 500mg x2.

Over a couple of months BGs improved enormously hardly ever touching 10 now - so when I just
had another HbA1c I was not very pleased to hear the results were not as good as last time!!!!
Metformin now increased to 500mg x3.

Sorry to ramble on but to me something doesn't seem right?
Please can anybody explain?
Do I need a second opinion?

davef · #2 (**permalink**) 03-04-2008, 06:02 AM

jjordie,

Sorry to hear you are having a rough time. I can't comment on the Lisinprol as I have no experience of that at all. The Metformin dose changes, I guess you know that it does take time for Metformin to kick in and I guess the same is true when increasing the dose. What was you A1c result and what is your 14 (or longer) day average, you say you are not hitting 10 anymore but where are you?

Stick with it, it's not easy when you have bad days, but you will have better days too.

Emm · #3 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 03:23 AM

Do you know what your actual results were? If not, can you find out? The more info we have the more advice we can offer

Also, note that an A1c test is an average - perhaps before you were swinging high and low, and now you're sitting at a more even rate?

The BG tests you do at home only point to those few moments in time - could you have been missing lots of high or low numbers in between? How often were you testing?

jjordie · #4 (**permalink**) 03-05-2008, 11:12 AM

Thank you Davef and Emm for your replies.
I think I was really "gobsmacked" as I was sure my results were much better than previous test.

I test 3 or 4 times daily and A1c result was 3 months after last one. BGs were 7.9 - 9.0 - 8.4 - 7.8 - 7.0 - 9.7 - 6.7 the last two days before bloodtest and in that range for several weeks. Not good I know but getting better.
Time before they were for example - 12.0 - 11.6 - 9.8 and GP had said A1c was satisfactory!!

Seen the GP again today and he has changed Lisinopril for Candesartan.
Lisinopril gave me a cough when I took it for about 11 months 1998/9 and he agreed he had made an error in prescribing it again!

Any way - it's nice to air my frustrations on here. I now have to 'keep taking the tablets' and have another
blood test in two weeks time

p.s. I hate taking all these tablets - are there lots more people
who have to take so many?

davef · #5 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 06:29 AM

JJordie,

Would you consider testing more? I'm guessing that of your 3-4 daily tests that 1 is in the morning (fasting) and another would be last thing at night, which leaves 1-2 during the day.

I have really found that testing has been a huge help to me in getting my numbers down and I feel that I'm probably approaching having good control. I test morning and night, but I also test before each meal to see my starting point, if I'm around 4.5 then I can have a little extra carbs, if I'm 5 or above I'm more careful about the carbs. I then test 2 hours after first bite to see how I tolerated the food I ate.

Just an idea but it might help.

Alice · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 10:21 AM

Lisinipril isn't prescribed because your are getting "worse"...so it's not bad news. It's pretty much prescribed to all Type 1's (not sure about type 2's) for a preventative...long range...from kidney damage.

I've been taking it for about 5 years and would have taken earlier except for an oversight from my endo at that time.

Whether people take it or not is another matter, but it is pretty much "business as usual" for endos to prescribe. So, look at the positive side...you are getting good advice.

xMenace · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjordie

I am told I should now start taking Lisinopril to protect
my kidneys! My blood pressure is fine GP says so I am wondering then why do I need to take Lisinopril.

You answered your own question. It does double-duty which makes the whitecoats giddy.

Quote:

After Hba1c GP said the result was 'fine'. ... I was not very pleased to hear the results were not as good as last time!!!!

Fine is not good enough. I always ask for the exact number. Fine could be 7.5% for some doctors or 6.5% for others. Some might even think higher is fine. I make my own judgement of what fine is.

Yes there's lots of people here on lots of pills.

jjordie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 02:38 PM

Dave, yes I will test more often because as you say it helps to know what your numbers are. 4.5 + 5 !
can't remember when mine were that low. Lots of work to be done here I think. I was once 'spoken to'
by the diabetes nurse (now retired) because she said testing too much was self-abuse

What do you say to someone like that?

XMenace - I have to see GP again in 3 weeks to check if the Candesartan is doing it's job - also
another blood test before that. - And I will ask for numbers when I see him.

"So, look at the positive side...you are getting good advice."
Thanks for that positive statement Alice. I think I get a bit stressed when
things aren't going as I had hoped.

DonnyC · #9 (**permalink**) 03-07-2008, 04:09 PM

Stop poisoning yourself with all those drugs.
Start using insulin and you will see those low elusive numbers.
It’s safe, it’s natural and it works.
You will see immediate results. It will change your life.

jjordie · #10 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 02:54 AM

Donny
I agree with your sentiments but we are told, sorry should say 'advised'
what to do by our GPs and they decide whether we use insulin or not and I think they
will try everything before they go to insulin!

Thanks for the thought anyway

DonnyC · #11 (**permalink**) 03-08-2008, 08:52 PM

I agree to a certain point. My GP experimented with several meds over the years.
I even received panicked calls from the medical centre telling me to immediately
stop taking a certain medication (Avaindia ) because it will damage my heart.
Great… that all I need.
IMO it seems the doctors benefit more by pushing pills, and would rather experiment with new drugs than to start a proven treatment.
That’s my own opinion…hopefully, your body holds until the day
you have had enough “experimenting” and begin a proper treatment.

jjordie · #12 (**permalink**) 03-09-2008, 05:37 AM

Donny
Looking at your meds it seems you don't have to take them for anything but diabetes?
Perhaps when you get as ancient as I am (74) then you might find a few more added to your list

Sotalol and Asprin I have to take as I suffered an episode of Atrial Fibrillation six years ago.

Thyroxine obviously for underactive thyroid.

Betahistine I have taken for about five years after 8 weeks coping with the effects of labrynthitis which affected my balance so much I could hardly walk but I am now cutting down and hoping to discontinue.

Ibuprofen which I have now stopped, was for chronic back pain since a car accident in 1999.
I still have very bad pain at times but am trying to cope without it so will see how it goes.

Candesartan and Metformin are the only two meds I take because of diabetes.

So I am trying to cut down on these meds but if I did go onto insulin then
I would still need to take Sotalol, Aspirin, Thyroxine and possibly Candesartin as well!!