Frequently Asked Questions About Diabetes
My doctor sends me for a blood test every 3 months called the hemoglobin A1c test (HbAlc); what is this test?
When you use your monitor at home, it tells you what your blood glucose is at that moment (before or after a meal). The “A-1-C” test gives your average blood glucose over the last 2 or 3 months.
What should your result be? The general recommendation from the American Diabetes Association is below 7%, which is an average blood glucose of about 150 mg/dl. Endocrinologists recommend a goal of less than 6.5% (an average of 140 mg/dl).
My A1C result 6 months ago was 8.5%, and the last one was 7.5%. Is that good?
Although the goal is below 7%, any improvement is excellent. You’re moving in the right direction. Your A1C decreased from 8.5% (197 mg/dl average blood glucose) to 7.5% (average blood glucose of 169 mg/dl). Your medication, diet changes and exercise have been making a difference.
My last A1C result (8%) was higher then the previous one (6.8%), but when I test my blood glucose every morning, it’s less than 130. Why did the A1C result go up?
There could be many reasons:
Your blood glucose is rising higher than it should after you eat (larger carb portions, eating in restaurants more often, celebrations with more food than you usually eat) your activity level may have dec reased lately (exercise lowers your blood glucose) your stress level may have been higher over the last few months (stress raises your blood glucose)
These are just a few possibilities for the increase in your A1C result, but one good way to gather more information is to test more often for a few days. Your blood glucose may be less than 130 before breakfast, but it could be going up to 200 or more after you eat. The only way to find out is to test 1 to 2 hours after you eat. The American Diabetes Association recommends less than 180 mg/dl after a meal. If it’s rising too often, it would cause your A1C to increase as well.
Why do I need to get my A1C down to less than 7%? I feel fine.
Research has proven that too much glucose in your blood day after day, year after year increases your risk of getting complications (eye, kidney, nerve damage), so if your blood glucose is within the target range (70 – 130 before a meal, less than 180 two hours after a meal; A1C result of less than 7%), you are less likely to develop complications.
Since I’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, friends, co-workers and family have been giving me advice about what I should and shouldn’t do. I also read things on the internet that says the opposite of the advice I’m getting. It’s confusing; what can I do?
Listen, thank them for the advice, and consult with your medical experts (doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, dietitians, diabetes educators), or trusted resources such as the American Diabetes Association (askADA@diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES or 1-800-342-2383) for reliable information you can count on. There is so much incorrect information about diabetes; it’s a good idea to verify anything you are not sure about.