RE: ADA A1C information

[Guest guest]

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar) at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> • You will feel better.

> • You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> • Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> • Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> • Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not misleading folks with my presentations. I find them on the

internet. Before I present them I get at least two confirmations from

different sources and usually more. So it would dbe just as wise for others

to decide who is presenting twaddle. Is it you or is it me? I go where the

facts lead me and not public opinion. So if facts upset others, then so be

it.

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

> a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am not misleading folks with my presentations. I find them on the

internet. Before I present them I get at least two confirmations from

different sources and usually more. So it would dbe just as wise for others

to decide who is presenting twaddle. Is it you or is it me? I go where the

facts lead me and not public opinion. So if facts upset others, then so be

it.

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

> a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

One can find rumors and hoaxes from more than one source on the

Internet. By your logic, they also should be true. (big grin)

I still maintain that at least an element of uncertainty should be

injected into your zealous faith in your A1C numbers, if only because

there is no national A1C standard.

And the band played on ...

Mike

> I am not misleading folks with my presentations. I find them on the

> internet. Before I present them I get at least two confirmations from

> different sources and usually more. So it would dbe just as wise for others

> to decide who is presenting twaddle. Is it you or is it me? I go where the

> facts lead me and not public opinion. So if facts upset others, then so be

> it.

> Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

One can find rumors and hoaxes from more than one source on the

Internet. By your logic, they also should be true. (big grin)

I still maintain that at least an element of uncertainty should be

injected into your zealous faith in your A1C numbers, if only because

there is no national A1C standard.

And the band played on ...

Mike

> I am not misleading folks with my presentations. I find them on the

> internet. Before I present them I get at least two confirmations from

> different sources and usually more. So it would dbe just as wise for others

> to decide who is presenting twaddle. Is it you or is it me? I go where the

> facts lead me and not public opinion. So if facts upset others, then so be

> it.

> Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I will also be frank. No matter how one cuts it an A1C level between

4.2-5.2 is definitely between an A1C of 4-6. Knowing what a normal range

for an A1C is for a non-diabetic does not disturb me at all, but it does

give me a goal to strive for. Further more, for most of my diabetic life I

had an A1C below 6.0 and this did not keep me from having three heart

attacks and two heart by-pass surgeeries. At the time I did not know the

dangers of running high bs levels over 160, and all my doctors always said I

was just doing just fine and keep up the good work. I was never told the

dangers of running high bs levels. So I kept up the good work, swimming a

mile three times per week, taking the oral meds as prescribed, and eating

all the ice cream, cake, cookies, candy and beer I liked almost daily ,

which was a lot. I cannot help but ponder what I would have done had I

known what the real normal A1C level really was. I do believe I may have

avoided those heart attacks and heart by-pass surgeries. There is no

guarantee, but I believe this may have been a very real possibility, and not

a bunch of twaddle.

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

> a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I will also be frank. No matter how one cuts it an A1C level between

4.2-5.2 is definitely between an A1C of 4-6. Knowing what a normal range

for an A1C is for a non-diabetic does not disturb me at all, but it does

give me a goal to strive for. Further more, for most of my diabetic life I

had an A1C below 6.0 and this did not keep me from having three heart

attacks and two heart by-pass surgeeries. At the time I did not know the

dangers of running high bs levels over 160, and all my doctors always said I

was just doing just fine and keep up the good work. I was never told the

dangers of running high bs levels. So I kept up the good work, swimming a

mile three times per week, taking the oral meds as prescribed, and eating

all the ice cream, cake, cookies, candy and beer I liked almost daily ,

which was a lot. I cannot help but ponder what I would have done had I

known what the real normal A1C level really was. I do believe I may have

avoided those heart attacks and heart by-pass surgeries. There is no

guarantee, but I believe this may have been a very real possibility, and not

a bunch of twaddle.

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

> a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Harry:

You might have had those heart attacks anyway. You are dead on (no pun

intended) when you say that 160 was too high. ly, I don't quite

grock how you could have had an A1C below 6 and had readings that high

unless you had great swings between low BG readings and the readings

over 160. As we all know, one needs to look both at A1C (which measures

an average) and at daily readings. If, as I suspect, you had swings,

it's a great example to those who wonder why they cannot do without

either A1C or daily bG measurements.

Mike

> I will also be frank. No matter how one cuts it an A1C level between

> 4.2-5.2 is definitely between an A1C of 4-6. Knowing what a normal range

> for an A1C is for a non-diabetic does not disturb me at all, but it does

> give me a goal to strive for. Further more, for most of my diabetic life I

> had an A1C below 6.0 and this did not keep me from having three heart

> attacks and two heart by-pass surgeeries. At the time I did not know the

> dangers of running high bs levels over 160, and all my doctors always said I

> was just doing just fine and keep up the good work. I was never told the

> dangers of running high bs levels. So I kept up the good work, swimming a

> mile three times per week, taking the oral meds as prescribed, and eating

> all the ice cream, cake, cookies, candy and beer I liked almost daily ,

> which was a lot. I cannot help but ponder what I would have done had I

> known what the real normal A1C level really was. I do believe I may have

> avoided those heart attacks and heart by-pass surgeries. There is no

> guarantee, but I believe this may have been a very real possibility, and not

> a bunch of twaddle.

> Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

What you say may or may not be true, Harry about your heart attacks. After

all, not everyone who has heart attttacks has diabetes at all. My dad, who

was diabetic, had a massive MI at age 49; this included his heart stopping

and he had a stroke. He was not overweight and as he had been an Air Force

officer, he was in good shape physically-however, his own father had died at

age 52 of heart disease and my dad smoked and drank a lot. Inheridence has

a lot to do with it too.(Oh, yes, my dad ate hamburgers about 5 days a

week.)

Re: ADA A1C information

I will also be frank. No matter how one cuts it an A1C level between

4.2-5.2 is definitely between an A1C of 4-6. Knowing what a normal range

for an A1C is for a non-diabetic does not disturb me at all, but it does

give me a goal to strive for. Further more, for most of my diabetic life I

had an A1C below 6.0 and this did not keep me from having three heart

attacks and two heart by-pass surgeeries. At the time I did not know the

dangers of running high bs levels over 160, and all my doctors always said I

was just doing just fine and keep up the good work. I was never told the

dangers of running high bs levels. So I kept up the good work, swimming a

mile three times per week, taking the oral meds as prescribed, and eating

all the ice cream, cake, cookies, candy and beer I liked almost daily ,

which was a lot. I cannot help but ponder what I would have done had I

known what the real normal A1C level really was. I do believe I may have

avoided those heart attacks and heart by-pass surgeries. There is no

guarantee, but I believe this may have been a very real possibility, and not

a bunch of twaddle.

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

> a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ridiculous! I believe there are still some who believe the earth is flat,

too. Just because they believe it does not make it so. I suppose one could

only believe what is presented on the main stream news, and believe it to be

so, too. <grin>. After all isn't it not supposed to be popular or what most

folks ought to believe?

For myself I will bank on information that is not only reported but also

verified time after time. You know rumors can be checked out or didn't you

forget that,too. If a false rumor is checked out and it is still false,

does that make it true? I think not. Even if the American Diabetes

Association reports that a normal A1C for a non-diabetic is around 5% or

5.0, does that really mean you cannot trust that information or is it

raeally around 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or even higher? After all lab test results

may vary from laboratory to laboratory. It takes a lot of reading and

research to discern the fine print and nuances. of what is true and what is

not true. When I present information here, you can bank on the definite

conclusion that I have checked it out time after time and also I have relied

on different sources for the most part. This is a result of the scientist

training I have undergone for decades. However I do think it would be more

interesting to say that I may throw you a ringer from time to time, and to

say that you should never believe any thing I say here unless you have

checked it out for yourself and it conforms to what you already know to be

true. <smile>

After all shouldn't folks be doing their own homework?

Now what is this stuff about logic...?

Re: ADA A1C information

>>

>>

>> Harrry:

>>

>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>> average blood glucose readings.

>>

>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>

>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>

>> Mike Freeman

>>

>>

>>

>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>>> feel

>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>> " normal

>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>>> of

>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>>> for

>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>>> will

>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>> A1C

>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>> metric

>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>> for

>>> a

>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>>> 5.0.

>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>> months

>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>> have

>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>

>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>

>>> A1C test

>>>

>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>> other

>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>>> at

>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>>> sugar control:

>>> List of 2 items

>>> . You will feel better.

>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>> blood

>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>> any

>>> one

>>> time.

>>>

>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>> that

>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>>> you

>>> a

>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>> months.

>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>> plan

>>> is

>>> working.

>>>

>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>> overall

>>> success.

>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>> record

>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>

>>> How It Works

>>>

>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>>> may

>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>> found

>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>>> the

>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>> such

>>> as glucose.

>>>

>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>> sugar

>>> in

>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>> links

>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>> in

>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>>> the

>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>> average

>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>

>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>> last

>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>> hemoglobin.

>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>> blood

>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>> of

>>> more

>>> A1C.

>>>

>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>> your

>>> blood

>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>>> red

>>> blood cell.

>>>

>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>> A1C

>>> level is

>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>> average

>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>> range

>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>>> long

>>> time.

>>>

>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>> diagnosed

>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>> glucose

>>> control,

>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>>> the

>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>> about

>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>> your

>>> doctor

>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>

>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>

>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>

>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>>> and

>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>> diabetes

>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>> that

>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>> would

>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>

>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>> when

>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>>> the

>>> doctor

>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>> didn't

>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>>> test

>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>> average,

>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>> exercise program

>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>

>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>> and

>>> urine

>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>> to

>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>

>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>> her

>>> blood

>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>> A1C

>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>> been

>>> poor

>>> for the last few months.

>>>

>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>> finger

>>> and putting

>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>> sugar

>>> test

>>> errors.

>>>

>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>> got

>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>> balance.

>>> At

>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>>> good

>>> news about her control.

>>>

>>> A1C tests can help:

>>> List of 3 items

>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>> control.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> Test Limit

>>>

>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>> control. You can't

>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>> blood

>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>> effective

>>> control.

>>>

>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>> different

>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>> might

>>> get back four different test results.

>>>

>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>> been

>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>>> average,

>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>> lab

>>> does

>>> the test.

>>>

>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>> " read "

>>> differently.

>>>

>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>> But

>>> it

>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>> work

>>> for

>>> the best possible control.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

Harry, I really think Mike is correct about the A1C varying according to

your lab. It dedepends on what lab equipment your lab uses, so you can have

variances on every type of blood test by a point or two-or 3!

Re: ADA A1C information

Harrry:

I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

*is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

average blood glucose readings.

So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

think it possible you might be mistaken!

Mike Freeman

> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

feel

> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

" normal

> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

of

> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

for

> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

will

> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the A1C

> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

metric

> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level for

a

> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

5.0.

> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

months

> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you have

> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>

> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>

> A1C test

>

> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

other

> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

at

> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

> sugar control:

> List of 2 items

> . You will feel better.

> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

> list end

>

> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

blood

> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

> one

> time.

>

> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

you

> a

> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

is

> working.

>

> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

overall

> success.

> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

record

> gives the same big picture.

>

> How It Works

>

> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

may

> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

found

> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

the

> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

such

> as glucose.

>

> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

in

> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and links

> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

the

> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>

> Thanks for the Memories

>

> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

last

> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

hemoglobin.

> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red blood

> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

> more

> A1C.

>

> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

your

> blood

> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

red

> blood cell.

>

> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the A1C

> level is

> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

average

> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can range

> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

long

> time.

>

> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

diagnosed

> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

> control,

> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

the

> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested about

> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and your

> doctor

> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>

> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>

> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>

> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

and

> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

> diabetes

> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

that

> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

would

> try an exercise program to improve control.

>

> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week, when

> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

the

> doctor

> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It didn't

> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>

> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

test

> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

> average,

> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

> exercise program

> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

> difference in his blood sugar control.

>

> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

> urine

> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and to

> check her blood sugar as well.

>

> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found her

> blood

> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

been

> poor

> for the last few months.

>

> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her finger

> and putting

> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood sugar

> test

> errors.

>

> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

balance.

> At

> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

good

> news about her control.

>

> A1C tests can help:

> List of 3 items

> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

> list end

>

> Test Limit

>

> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

> control. You can't

> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in effective

> control.

>

> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

different

> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

might

> get back four different test results.

>

> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

been

> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

> average,

> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the lab

> does

> the test.

>

> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

" read "

> differently.

>

> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

it

> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

> for

> the best possible control.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I do not doubt it for one moment. So why should one believe them?

Re: ADA A1C information

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>> A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>> for

> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>> have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>> links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>> blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>> A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>> range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>> about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>> your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>> when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>> didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>> to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>> her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>> finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>> sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>> effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>> lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I have no doubt as to the importance of genetics and diet. I also forgot to

mention that I had a stroke, too. I definitely do not blame my medical

problems on diabetes alone. I am sure some other factrs are involved, too.

For instance my body carries the antagens for Climedia pneumonia, which is a

bacterial infection, which has only recently become known and how to treat

it. This bacteria can cause heart trouble and strokes as well as diabetes.

Still I wonder!

Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>> A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>> for

>

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>> have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>> links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>> blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>> A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>> range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>> about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>> your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>> when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>> didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>> to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>> her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>> finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>> sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>> effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>> lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Because if you believe all lab tests are false, why even bother to have them

done at all! If you are getting similar results time after time, then it

must be fairly accurate.

Re: ADA A1C information

I do not doubt it for one moment. So why should one believe them?

Re: ADA A1C information

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>> A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>> for

> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>> have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>> links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>> blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>> A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>> range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>> about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>> your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>> when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>> didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>> to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>> her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>> finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>> sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>> effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>> lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Well, we all wonder Nothing is definite except death! (smile) And hopefully

that won't happen any too soon.

Re: ADA A1C information

I have no doubt as to the importance of genetics and diet. I also forgot to

mention that I had a stroke, too. I definitely do not blame my medical

problems on diabetes alone. I am sure some other factrs are involved, too.

For instance my body carries the antagens for Climedia pneumonia, which is a

bacterial infection, which has only recently become known and how to treat

it. This bacteria can cause heart trouble and strokes as well as diabetes.

Still I wonder!

Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>> A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>> for

>

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>> have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>> links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>> blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>> A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>> range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>> about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>> your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>> when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>> didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>> to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>> her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>> finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>> sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>> effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>> lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

Well, we all wonder Nothing is definite except death! (smile) And hopefully

that won't happen any too soon.

Re: ADA A1C information

I have no doubt as to the importance of genetics and diet. I also forgot to

mention that I had a stroke, too. I definitely do not blame my medical

problems on diabetes alone. I am sure some other factrs are involved, too.

For instance my body carries the antagens for Climedia pneumonia, which is a

bacterial infection, which has only recently become known and how to treat

it. This bacteria can cause heart trouble and strokes as well as diabetes.

Still I wonder!

Re: ADA A1C information

>

>

> Harrry:

>

> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

> average blood glucose readings.

>

> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>

> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>

> Mike Freeman

>

>

>

>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>> A1C

>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>> for

>

>> a

>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>> have

>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>

>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>

>> A1C test

>>

>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>> sugar control:

>> List of 2 items

>> . You will feel better.

>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>> list end

>>

>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at any

>> one

>> time.

>>

>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test that

>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>> a

>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3 months.

>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment plan

>> is

>> working.

>>

>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>> success.

>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>> gives the same big picture.

>>

>> How It Works

>>

>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>> as glucose.

>>

>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much sugar

>> in

>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>> links

>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose in

>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your average

>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>

>> Thanks for the Memories

>>

>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>> blood

>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form of

>> more

>> A1C.

>>

>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>> blood

>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>> blood cell.

>>

>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>> A1C

>> level is

>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>> range

>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>> time.

>>

>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall glucose

>> control,

>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>> about

>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>> your

>> doctor

>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>

>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>

>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>

>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>> diabetes

>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>

>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>> when

>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>> doctor

>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>> didn't

>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>

>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>> average,

>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>> exercise program

>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>

>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots and

>> urine

>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>> to

>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>

>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>> her

>> blood

>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an A1C

>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>> poor

>> for the last few months.

>>

>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>> finger

>> and putting

>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>> sugar

>> test

>> errors.

>>

>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents got

>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>> At

>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>> news about her control.

>>

>> A1C tests can help:

>> List of 3 items

>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes control.

>> list end

>>

>> Test Limit

>>

>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>> control. You can't

>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your blood

>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>> effective

>> control.

>>

>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>> get back four different test results.

>>

>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>> average,

>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>> lab

>> does

>> the test.

>>

>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>> differently.

>>

>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control. But

>> it

>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to work

>> for

>> the best possible control.

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

I never took a post prandial glucose reading while I was in the first

fifteen years of being on oral medications for diabetes. In fact make that

16 years of never having taken a two hour post prandial blood glucose

reading. I just took the meds as prescribed and checked in twice a year for

an A1C, as recommended by my doctor. As far as he was concerned I was doing

just fine as long as my A1C's were 6.0 or lower, and they were. As far as I

knew at the time I was doing what the doctor recommended and I was doing

fine. There was never a consult regarding diet or exercise. He never heard

of carb counting at the time, so what did I know? The answer is very

little, as he did also. He did know about medications though!

Re: ADA A1C information

>>

>>

>> Harrry:

>>

>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>> average blood glucose readings.

>>

>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>

>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>

>> Mike Freeman

>>

>>

>>

>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>>> feel

>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>> " normal

>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>>> of

>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>>> for

>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>>> will

>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>> A1C

>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>> metric

>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>> for

>>> a

>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>>> 5.0.

>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>> months

>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>> have

>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>

>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>

>>> A1C test

>>>

>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>> other

>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>>> at

>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>>> sugar control:

>>> List of 2 items

>>> . You will feel better.

>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>> blood

>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>> any

>>> one

>>> time.

>>>

>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>> that

>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>>> you

>>> a

>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>> months.

>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>> plan

>>> is

>>> working.

>>>

>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>> overall

>>> success.

>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>> record

>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>

>>> How It Works

>>>

>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>>> may

>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>> found

>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>>> the

>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>> such

>>> as glucose.

>>>

>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>> sugar

>>> in

>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>> links

>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>> in

>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>>> the

>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>> average

>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>

>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>> last

>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>> hemoglobin.

>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>> blood

>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>> of

>>> more

>>> A1C.

>>>

>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>> your

>>> blood

>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>>> red

>>> blood cell.

>>>

>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>> A1C

>>> level is

>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>> average

>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>> range

>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>>> long

>>> time.

>>>

>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>> diagnosed

>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>> glucose

>>> control,

>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>>> the

>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>> about

>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>> your

>>> doctor

>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>

>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>

>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>

>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>>> and

>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>> diabetes

>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>> that

>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>> would

>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>

>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>> when

>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>>> the

>>> doctor

>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>> didn't

>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>>> test

>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>> average,

>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>> exercise program

>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>

>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>> and

>>> urine

>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>> to

>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>

>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>> her

>>> blood

>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>> A1C

>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>> been

>>> poor

>>> for the last few months.

>>>

>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>> finger

>>> and putting

>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>> sugar

>>> test

>>> errors.

>>>

>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>> got

>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>> balance.

>>> At

>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>>> good

>>> news about her control.

>>>

>>> A1C tests can help:

>>> List of 3 items

>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>> control.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> Test Limit

>>>

>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>> control. You can't

>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>> blood

>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>> effective

>>> control.

>>>

>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>> different

>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>> might

>>> get back four different test results.

>>>

>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>> been

>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>>> average,

>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>> lab

>>> does

>>> the test.

>>>

>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>> " read "

>>> differently.

>>>

>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>> But

>>> it

>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>> work

>>> for

>>> the best possible control.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

well the bottom line is, we are all incharge of our own bodies and our own

life. so there fore, we can listen to what we wish to listen to and believe

in or use our delete key to skip over any one that we feel is out of touch.

I for one think I will get my A1c down to around five and see how I feel. if

I feel ok with it there, then I will do my dead level best to keep it there

and continue to listen to all the advice on this list. no matter if I agree

or not.

Re: ADA A1C information

>>>

>>>

>>> Harrry:

>>>

>>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>>> average blood glucose readings.

>>>

>>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>>

>>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>>

>>> Mike Freeman

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>>>> feel

>>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>>> " normal

>>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal

>>>> range

>>>> of

>>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware

>>>> of

>>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal

>>>> range

>>>> for

>>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>>>> will

>>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>>> A1C

>>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware

>>>> that

>>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>>> metric

>>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>>> for

>>>> a

>>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>>>> 5.0.

>>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>>> months

>>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>>> have

>>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>>

>>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>>

>>>> A1C test

>>>>

>>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>>> other

>>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose

>>>> (sugar)

>>>> at

>>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar control:

>>>> List of 2 items

>>>> . You will feel better.

>>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>>> list end

>>>>

>>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>>> any

>>>> one

>>>> time.

>>>>

>>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>>> that

>>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test

>>>> gives

>>>> you

>>>> a

>>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>>> months.

>>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>>> plan

>>>> is

>>>> working.

>>>>

>>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>>> overall

>>>> success.

>>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>>> record

>>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>>

>>>> How It Works

>>>>

>>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>>>> may

>>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>>> found

>>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to

>>>> all

>>>> the

>>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>>> such

>>>> as glucose.

>>>>

>>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>>> sugar

>>>> in

>>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>>> links

>>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>>> in

>>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to

>>>> measure

>>>> the

>>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>>> average

>>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>>

>>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>>

>>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>>> last

>>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>>> hemoglobin.

>>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>>> blood

>>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>>> of

>>>> more

>>>> A1C.

>>>>

>>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>>> your

>>>> blood

>>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of

>>>> a

>>>> red

>>>> blood cell.

>>>>

>>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>>> A1C

>>>> level is

>>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>>> average

>>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>>> range

>>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>>>> long

>>>> time.

>>>>

>>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>>> diagnosed

>>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>>> glucose

>>>> control,

>>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This

>>>> is

>>>> the

>>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>>> about

>>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>>> your

>>>> doctor

>>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>>

>>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>>

>>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>>

>>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>>>> and

>>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>>> diabetes

>>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>>> that

>>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>>> would

>>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>>

>>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>>> when

>>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>>>> the

>>>> doctor

>>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>>> didn't

>>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>>

>>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>>>> test

>>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>>> average,

>>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>>> exercise program

>>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>>

>>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>>

>>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>>> and

>>>> urine

>>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>>> to

>>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>>

>>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>>> her

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>>> A1C

>>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>>> been

>>>> poor

>>>> for the last few months.

>>>>

>>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>>> finger

>>>> and putting

>>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>>> sugar

>>>> test

>>>> errors.

>>>>

>>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>>> got

>>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>>> balance.

>>>> At

>>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>>>> good

>>>> news about her control.

>>>>

>>>> A1C tests can help:

>>>> List of 3 items

>>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>>> control.

>>>> list end

>>>>

>>>> Test Limit

>>>>

>>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>>> control. You can't

>>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>>> effective

>>>> control.

>>>>

>>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>>> different

>>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>>> might

>>>> get back four different test results.

>>>>

>>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>>> been

>>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that,

>>>> on

>>>> average,

>>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>>> lab

>>>> does

>>>> the test.

>>>>

>>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you

>>>> change

>>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>>> " read "

>>>> differently.

>>>>

>>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>>> But

>>>> it

>>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>>> work

>>>> for

>>>> the best possible control.

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

I don't believe that carb counting really got noticed until Dr. Atkins come

out with his diet and for the longest time folks still said he was a nut.

they said every one that had any sense knew that fats and to many calories

was what made you gain weight. they said that every one needed carbs to

maintain there energy level and Atkins was a nut. well I done the Atkins

diet for six months and I lost weight and felt pretty good, but like most

folks I got tired of not eating the good stuff and gained the weight back.

now I am counting carbs again and loosing the pounds again and I am

controlling my bs at the same time. must be some thing to this carb counting

way of life.

Re: ADA A1C information

>>>

>>>

>>> Harrry:

>>>

>>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>>> average blood glucose readings.

>>>

>>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>>

>>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>>

>>> Mike Freeman

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>>>> feel

>>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>>> " normal

>>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal

>>>> range

>>>> of

>>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware

>>>> of

>>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal

>>>> range

>>>> for

>>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>>>> will

>>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>>> A1C

>>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware

>>>> that

>>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>>> metric

>>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>>> for

>>>> a

>>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>>>> 5.0.

>>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>>> months

>>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>>> have

>>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>>

>>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>>

>>>> A1C test

>>>>

>>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>>> other

>>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose

>>>> (sugar)

>>>> at

>>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar control:

>>>> List of 2 items

>>>> . You will feel better.

>>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>>> list end

>>>>

>>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>>> any

>>>> one

>>>> time.

>>>>

>>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>>> that

>>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test

>>>> gives

>>>> you

>>>> a

>>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>>> months.

>>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>>> plan

>>>> is

>>>> working.

>>>>

>>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>>> overall

>>>> success.

>>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>>> record

>>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>>

>>>> How It Works

>>>>

>>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>>>> may

>>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>>> found

>>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to

>>>> all

>>>> the

>>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>>> such

>>>> as glucose.

>>>>

>>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>>> sugar

>>>> in

>>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>>> links

>>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>>> in

>>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to

>>>> measure

>>>> the

>>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>>> average

>>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>>

>>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>>

>>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>>> last

>>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>>> hemoglobin.

>>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>>> blood

>>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>>> of

>>>> more

>>>> A1C.

>>>>

>>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>>> your

>>>> blood

>>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of

>>>> a

>>>> red

>>>> blood cell.

>>>>

>>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>>> A1C

>>>> level is

>>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>>> average

>>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>>> range

>>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>>>> long

>>>> time.

>>>>

>>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>>> diagnosed

>>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>>> glucose

>>>> control,

>>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This

>>>> is

>>>> the

>>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>>> about

>>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>>> your

>>>> doctor

>>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>>

>>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>>

>>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>>

>>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>>>> and

>>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>>> diabetes

>>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>>> that

>>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>>> would

>>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>>

>>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>>> when

>>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>>>> the

>>>> doctor

>>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>>> didn't

>>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>>

>>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>>>> test

>>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>>> average,

>>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>>> exercise program

>>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>>

>>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>>

>>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>>> and

>>>> urine

>>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>>> to

>>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>>

>>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>>> her

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>>> A1C

>>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>>> been

>>>> poor

>>>> for the last few months.

>>>>

>>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>>> finger

>>>> and putting

>>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>>> sugar

>>>> test

>>>> errors.

>>>>

>>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>>> got

>>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>>> balance.

>>>> At

>>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>>>> good

>>>> news about her control.

>>>>

>>>> A1C tests can help:

>>>> List of 3 items

>>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>>> control.

>>>> list end

>>>>

>>>> Test Limit

>>>>

>>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>>> control. You can't

>>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>>> blood

>>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>>> effective

>>>> control.

>>>>

>>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>>> different

>>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>>> might

>>>> get back four different test results.

>>>>

>>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>>> been

>>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that,

>>>> on

>>>> average,

>>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>>> lab

>>>> does

>>>> the test.

>>>>

>>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you

>>>> change

>>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>>> " read "

>>>> differently.

>>>>

>>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>>> But

>>>> it

>>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>>> work

>>>> for

>>>> the best possible control.

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

[Guest guest]

Watch out Mark! I fear you may being logical. <smile>

Re: ADA A1C information

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> Harrry:

>>>>

>>>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>>>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>>>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>>>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>>>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and

>>>> Kidney

>>>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6;

>>>> the

>>>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>>>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C

>>>> measurement.

>>>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge.

>>>> There

>>>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>>>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am

>>>> not

>>>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why

>>>> I

>>>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>>>> average blood glucose readings.

>>>>

>>>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>>>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>>>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as

>>>> much

>>>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>>>

>>>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>>>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>>>

>>>> Mike Freeman

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page.

>>>>> I

>>>>> feel

>>>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>>>> " normal

>>>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal

>>>>> range

>>>>> of

>>>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware

>>>>> of

>>>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal

>>>>> range

>>>>> for

>>>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also

>>>>> you

>>>>> will

>>>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware

>>>>> that

>>>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>>>> metric

>>>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>>>> for

>>>>> a

>>>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C

>>>>> of

>>>>> 5.0.

>>>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>>>> months

>>>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>>>> have

>>>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>>>

>>>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>>>

>>>>> A1C test

>>>>>

>>>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>>>> other

>>>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose

>>>>> (sugar)

>>>>> at

>>>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar control:

>>>>> List of 2 items

>>>>> . You will feel better.

>>>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>>>> list end

>>>>>

>>>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>>>> any

>>>>> one

>>>>> time.

>>>>>

>>>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>>>> that

>>>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test

>>>>> gives

>>>>> you

>>>>> a

>>>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>>>> months.

>>>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>>>> plan

>>>>> is

>>>>> working.

>>>>>

>>>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>>>> overall

>>>>> success.

>>>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>>>> record

>>>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>>>

>>>>> How It Works

>>>>>

>>>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C.

>>>>> You

>>>>> may

>>>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>>>> found

>>>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to

>>>>> all

>>>>> the

>>>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>>>> such

>>>>> as glucose.

>>>>>

>>>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>>>> sugar

>>>>> in

>>>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>>>> links

>>>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>>>> in

>>>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to

>>>>> measure

>>>>> the

>>>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>>>> average

>>>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>>>

>>>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>>>

>>>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>>>> last

>>>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>>>> hemoglobin.

>>>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>>>> blood

>>>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>>>> of

>>>>> more

>>>>> A1C.

>>>>>

>>>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new

>>>>> red

>>>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>>>> your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of

>>>>> a

>>>>> red

>>>>> blood cell.

>>>>>

>>>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> level is

>>>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>>>> average

>>>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>>>> range

>>>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for

>>>>> a

>>>>> long

>>>>> time.

>>>>>

>>>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>>>> diagnosed

>>>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>>>> glucose

>>>>> control,

>>>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This

>>>>> is

>>>>> the

>>>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>>>> about

>>>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>>>> your

>>>>> doctor

>>>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>>>

>>>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>>>

>>>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two

>>>>> examples.

>>>>>

>>>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years,

>>>>> he

>>>>> and

>>>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>>>> diabetes

>>>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>>>> that

>>>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>>>> would

>>>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>>>

>>>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>>>> when

>>>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range.

>>>>> But

>>>>> the

>>>>> doctor

>>>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>>>> didn't

>>>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>>>

>>>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test.

>>>>> The

>>>>> test

>>>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>>>> average,

>>>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>>>> exercise program

>>>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make

>>>>> a

>>>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>>>

>>>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>>>

>>>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>>>> and

>>>>> urine

>>>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day

>>>>> and

>>>>> to

>>>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>>>

>>>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the

>>>>> ideal

>>>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>>>> her

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>>>> been

>>>>> poor

>>>>> for the last few months.

>>>>>

>>>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>>>> finger

>>>>> and putting

>>>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>>>> sugar

>>>>> test

>>>>> errors.

>>>>>

>>>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>>>> got

>>>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>>>> balance.

>>>>> At

>>>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results

>>>>> showed

>>>>> good

>>>>> news about her control.

>>>>>

>>>>> A1C tests can help:

>>>>> List of 3 items

>>>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>>>> control.

>>>>> list end

>>>>>

>>>>> Test Limit

>>>>>

>>>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>>>> control. You can't

>>>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>>>> effective

>>>>> control.

>>>>>

>>>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>>>> different

>>>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>>>> might

>>>>> get back four different test results.

>>>>>

>>>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>>>> been

>>>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that,

>>>>> on

>>>>> average,

>>>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>>>> lab

>>>>> does

>>>>> the test.

>>>>>

>>>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you

>>>>> change

>>>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>>>> " read "

>>>>> differently.

>>>>>

>>>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>>>> But

>>>>> it

>>>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>>>> work

>>>>> for

>>>>> the best possible control.

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

[Guest guest]

This makes too much sense. Ah really! smile

Re: ADA A1C information

>>

>> Harrry:

>>

>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>> average blood glucose readings.

>>

>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>

>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>

>> Mike Freeman

>>

>>

>>

>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>> A1C

>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>> for

>> a

>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>> have

>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>

>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>

>>> A1C test

>>>

>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>>> sugar control:

>>> List of 2 items

>>> . You will feel better.

>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>> any

>>> one

>>> time.

>>>

>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>> that

>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>>> a

>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>> months.

>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>> plan

>> is

>>> working.

>>>

>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>>> success.

>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>

>>> How It Works

>>>

>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>>> as glucose.

>>>

>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>> sugar

>> in

>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>> links

>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>> in

>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>> average

>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>

>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>> blood

>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>> of

>>> more

>>> A1C.

>>>

>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>>> blood

>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>>> blood cell.

>>>

>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>> A1C

>>> level is

>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>> range

>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>>> time.

>>>

>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>> glucose

>>> control,

>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>> about

>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>> your

>>> doctor

>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>

>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>

>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>

>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>> diabetes

>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>

>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>> when

>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>>> doctor

>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>> didn't

>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>> average,

>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>> exercise program

>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>> and

>>> urine

>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>> to

>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>

>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>> her

>>> blood

>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>> A1C

>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>>> poor

>>> for the last few months.

>>>

>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>> finger

>>> and putting

>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>> sugar

>>> test

>>> errors.

>>>

>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>> got

>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>>> At

>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>>> news about her control.

>>>

>>> A1C tests can help:

>>> List of 3 items

>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>> control.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> Test Limit

>>>

>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>> control. You can't

>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>> blood

>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>> effective

>>> control.

>>>

>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>>> get back four different test results.

>>>

>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>>> average,

>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>> lab

>>> does

>>> the test.

>>>

>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>>> differently.

>>>

>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>> But

>> it

>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>> work

>>> for

>>> the best possible control.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

This makes too much sense. Ah really! smile

Re: ADA A1C information

>>

>> Harrry:

>>

>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney

>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6; the

>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C measurement.

>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge. There

>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am not

>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why I

>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>> average blood glucose readings.

>>

>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as much

>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>

>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>

>> Mike Freeman

>>

>>

>>

>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page. I

>> feel

>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>> " normal

>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal range

>> of

>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware of

>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal range

>> for

>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also you

>> will

>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>> A1C

>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware that

>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>> metric

>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>> for

>> a

>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C of

>> 5.0.

>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>> months

>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>> have

>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>

>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>

>>> A1C test

>>>

>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>> other

>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose (sugar)

>> at

>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective blood

>>> sugar control:

>>> List of 2 items

>>> . You will feel better.

>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>> blood

>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>> any

>>> one

>>> time.

>>>

>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>> that

>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test gives

>> you

>>> a

>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>> months.

>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>> plan

>> is

>>> working.

>>>

>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>> overall

>>> success.

>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>> record

>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>

>>> How It Works

>>>

>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C. You

>> may

>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>> found

>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all

>> the

>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>> such

>>> as glucose.

>>>

>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>> sugar

>> in

>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>> links

>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>> in

>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to measure

>> the

>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>> average

>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>

>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>

>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>> last

>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>> hemoglobin.

>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>> blood

>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>> of

>>> more

>>> A1C.

>>>

>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new red

>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>> your

>>> blood

>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of a

>> red

>>> blood cell.

>>>

>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>> A1C

>>> level is

>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>> average

>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>> range

>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for a

>> long

>>> time.

>>>

>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>> diagnosed

>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>> glucose

>>> control,

>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This is

>> the

>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>> about

>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>> your

>>> doctor

>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>

>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>

>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two examples.

>>>

>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years, he

>> and

>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>> diabetes

>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>> that

>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>> would

>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>

>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>> when

>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range. But

>> the

>>> doctor

>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>> didn't

>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test. The

>> test

>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>> average,

>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>> exercise program

>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make a

>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>

>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>

>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>> and

>>> urine

>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day and

>>> to

>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>

>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the ideal

>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>> her

>>> blood

>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>> A1C

>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>> been

>>> poor

>>> for the last few months.

>>>

>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>> finger

>>> and putting

>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>> sugar

>>> test

>>> errors.

>>>

>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>> got

>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>> balance.

>>> At

>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results showed

>> good

>>> news about her control.

>>>

>>> A1C tests can help:

>>> List of 3 items

>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>> control.

>>> list end

>>>

>>> Test Limit

>>>

>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>> control. You can't

>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>> blood

>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>> effective

>>> control.

>>>

>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>> different

>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>> might

>>> get back four different test results.

>>>

>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>> been

>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that, on

>>> average,

>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>> lab

>>> does

>>> the test.

>>>

>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you change

>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>> " read "

>>> differently.

>>>

>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>> But

>> it

>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>> work

>>> for

>>> the best possible control.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

[Guest guest]

I was introduced to carb counting (matching to insulin, not necessarily

limiting carbs) in 2000. I am not sure when Atkins became popular. But the

standards for A1c's and blood sugar levels have been steadily getting

tighter over the years. When I was diagnosed in 1991 an A1c of 7% was

considered excellent control and my target range for before meals was 4-10.

No one knew that testing after meals was even important. Nowadays that is

not good control. I do not think you can blame doctors for not knowing; they

knew what was acceptable control back then, it's just that fifteen years ago

there wasn't the research showing that tight control helped lessen

complications like there is today, and the tools available (in my case

insulins) were not as effective as they are today, so tighter control would

have been extremely difficult. Recent studies that have shown a significant

decline in the rate of diabetes complications today compared to ten or

twenty years ago testify to the fact that obviously even today's standards

are working, even if some people think they are still not tight enough.

As for A1c's, I think that depends on which lab you go to and which

organization you think is most credible. I did a quick Google search and

everything I could find said 4-6% was normal. Personally I would be happy

with an A1c of 6.0% or lower, but if you want to aim for lower, more power

to you! I think, though, that for those trying to get in control after being

out of control it's good to aim for a bit higher target temporarily. If you

are starting with an A1c of 8 or 9 and the next one is 6, great! Then you

can later aim for a 5 if you want to. If you aim for a 5 initially and then

your next A1c is only a 6, that would be extremely discouraging and

depressing if someone had put tons of effort into carb counting and figuring

carb ratios and correction factors and exercised more, etc. Perhaps my ideas

of things are a bit different because I haven't had complications, but I

think there is a balancing act between striving for excellent diabetes

control and at the same time not letting it dominate your life. Some people

can achieve an A1c of 5 and still not think about diabetes a lot. Others

might find that while they can achieve and A1c of 6, achieving one of 5

requires so much energy and thought that they don't have a time when they

can not think about how such-and-such a factor is affecting their blood

sugar. For them, I would say an A1c of 6 is fine; for those who choose to

strive for a lower one, that is fine, too. But I also think it's important

to express this A1c goal as OPINION, and not fact, unless you back it up

with wherever you found the information. Also, the level at which

complications occurs depends on the individual. There are people who have

had A1c's of 7, 8, 9, or higher for years and don't have a single

complication. There are also people who have always had an A1c of 5 or 6 and

end up with multiple complications. To my knowledge no one knows why this

happens.

Just a comment on the whole internet research thing: as someone who has been

immersed in academia for the past five years, I do not use online sources

for research. In fact in many university classes students are not allowed to

use online sources to back up their arguments or provide evidence, unless

it's an online edition of a peer-reviewed journal as can be accessed through

databases like EBSCOhost or Medline. The difference between something from a

peer-reviewed journal, book, or even magazine or news item is that anyone,

and I really do mean anyone, can put up a website that looks credible.

Domain names nowadays cost sometimes less than $10 annually; web authoring

software allows even people who don't know HTML to design very sophisticated

sites, and most ISPs now include free space to host a site to the average

customer. With internet cafés and computers at most libraries, you don't

even need to own a computer yourself to launch a website. If I were inclined

to do so, I could stick up a site promoting my ideas or my book or my

product in no time, and any crackpot can say anything they want online

because there is no peer reviewing or editors or publisher to refuse to

publish it or to ask them to back up their information. Because of I'd say

if someone is citing a website as a source, include that website in the

e-mail so that readers can take a look and decide for themselves if it is

credible.

Anyway, just my two cents worth on the posts today.

Jen

[Guest guest]

I was introduced to carb counting (matching to insulin, not necessarily

limiting carbs) in 2000. I am not sure when Atkins became popular. But the

standards for A1c's and blood sugar levels have been steadily getting

tighter over the years. When I was diagnosed in 1991 an A1c of 7% was

considered excellent control and my target range for before meals was 4-10.

No one knew that testing after meals was even important. Nowadays that is

not good control. I do not think you can blame doctors for not knowing; they

knew what was acceptable control back then, it's just that fifteen years ago

there wasn't the research showing that tight control helped lessen

complications like there is today, and the tools available (in my case

insulins) were not as effective as they are today, so tighter control would

have been extremely difficult. Recent studies that have shown a significant

decline in the rate of diabetes complications today compared to ten or

twenty years ago testify to the fact that obviously even today's standards

are working, even if some people think they are still not tight enough.

As for A1c's, I think that depends on which lab you go to and which

organization you think is most credible. I did a quick Google search and

everything I could find said 4-6% was normal. Personally I would be happy

with an A1c of 6.0% or lower, but if you want to aim for lower, more power

to you! I think, though, that for those trying to get in control after being

out of control it's good to aim for a bit higher target temporarily. If you

are starting with an A1c of 8 or 9 and the next one is 6, great! Then you

can later aim for a 5 if you want to. If you aim for a 5 initially and then

your next A1c is only a 6, that would be extremely discouraging and

depressing if someone had put tons of effort into carb counting and figuring

carb ratios and correction factors and exercised more, etc. Perhaps my ideas

of things are a bit different because I haven't had complications, but I

think there is a balancing act between striving for excellent diabetes

control and at the same time not letting it dominate your life. Some people

can achieve an A1c of 5 and still not think about diabetes a lot. Others

might find that while they can achieve and A1c of 6, achieving one of 5

requires so much energy and thought that they don't have a time when they

can not think about how such-and-such a factor is affecting their blood

sugar. For them, I would say an A1c of 6 is fine; for those who choose to

strive for a lower one, that is fine, too. But I also think it's important

to express this A1c goal as OPINION, and not fact, unless you back it up

with wherever you found the information. Also, the level at which

complications occurs depends on the individual. There are people who have

had A1c's of 7, 8, 9, or higher for years and don't have a single

complication. There are also people who have always had an A1c of 5 or 6 and

end up with multiple complications. To my knowledge no one knows why this

happens.

Just a comment on the whole internet research thing: as someone who has been

immersed in academia for the past five years, I do not use online sources

for research. In fact in many university classes students are not allowed to

use online sources to back up their arguments or provide evidence, unless

it's an online edition of a peer-reviewed journal as can be accessed through

databases like EBSCOhost or Medline. The difference between something from a

peer-reviewed journal, book, or even magazine or news item is that anyone,

and I really do mean anyone, can put up a website that looks credible.

Domain names nowadays cost sometimes less than $10 annually; web authoring

software allows even people who don't know HTML to design very sophisticated

sites, and most ISPs now include free space to host a site to the average

customer. With internet cafés and computers at most libraries, you don't

even need to own a computer yourself to launch a website. If I were inclined

to do so, I could stick up a site promoting my ideas or my book or my

product in no time, and any crackpot can say anything they want online

because there is no peer reviewing or editors or publisher to refuse to

publish it or to ask them to back up their information. Because of I'd say

if someone is citing a website as a source, include that website in the

e-mail so that readers can take a look and decide for themselves if it is

credible.

Anyway, just my two cents worth on the posts today.

Jen

[Guest guest]

Wow!, Mark you are doing good. Things do change. When I was first

diagnosed as being a diabetic in 1987 following my first heart attack, one

was considered to be a borderline diabetic if one rand a fasting blood sugar

greater than 140 consistently. I did for around two years before my heart

attack. Six months after the heart attack it was reported in the medical

journals that a borderline diabetic should be treated aggressively with

medications and diet in order to avoid a heart attack. Well, that news came

too late for me. Today there is better information, research and technology

available, and who knows what it will be like in five or ten more years?

Re: ADA A1C information

>>>>

>>>>

>>>> Harrry:

>>>>

>>>> I'm going to be frank: your continual harping on a normal A1C being

>>>> between 4.2 and 5.2 is sheer twaddle and does a severe disservice to

>>>> diabetics both old and new including yourself. For starters, it depends

>>>> upon what lab you use what a " normal " A1C is. Some go between 4.8 and

>>>> 6.2 (a navy lab, I believe); the National Diabetes, Digestive and

>>>> Kidney

>>>> Diseases Institute of the NIH say a " normal " A1C is between 4 and 6;

>>>> the

>>>> ADA also says this; The AACE says 3.8 to 6 and I've seen 4.2 to 6

>>>> elsewhere. In fact, there *is* no national standard for A1C

>>>> measurement.

>>>> That's the dirty little secret that *no* one wants to acknowledge.

>>>> There

>>>> *is* a taskforce working on one but it hasn't finished its work yet and

>>>> there are some problems, apparently, coming up with a standard. I am

>>>> not

>>>> sympathetic; I feel that a national standard is imperative. That's why

>>>> I

>>>> said the best thing was to work wioth one's lab and corelate this with

>>>> average blood glucose readings.

>>>>

>>>> So please, in the name of honesty, stop misleading people with your BS

>>>> about what a " normal " A1C is. And before you accuse me of trysting my

>>>> Big Bad Doctor, I, too, have searched the Internet. And there is as

>>>> much

>>>> horse-s**t on the Internet as there is valid scientific data.

>>>>

>>>> In the words of Oliver Cromwell: I beseech you in the Bowels of Crist:

>>>> think it possible you might be mistaken!

>>>>

>>>> Mike Freeman

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>

>>>>> I have copied the information below directly from the ADA home page.

>>>>> I

>>>>> feel

>>>>> they sugar coat what you should know, since a thorough search of the

>>>>> " normal

>>>>> range " of an A1C via the internet will reveal that the real normal

>>>>> range

>>>>> of

>>>>> a non-diabetic is 4.2-5.2, and it seems that most doctors are unaware

>>>>> of

>>>>> this research finding. So when a doctor tells you that the normal

>>>>> range

>>>>> for

>>>>> a non-diabetic is 5.8, they are giving you false information. Also

>>>>> you

>>>>> will

>>>>> notice that they C Y A (cover your arse) any information regarding the

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> by saying it varies from lab test to lab test and from laboratory to

>>>>> laboratory. While this is true to some extent, one should be aware

>>>>> that

>>>>> even laboratories have to meet certain standards. A foot on my ruler

>>>>> measures twelve inches, and this measurement can be converted to any

>>>>> metric

>>>>> system and visa versa. Even the ADA admits that the average A1C level

>>>>> for

>>>>> a

>>>>> non-diabetic, as you read below, is around 5%. This would be an A1C

>>>>> of

>>>>> 5.0.

>>>>> An A1C reading of 13.0 shows serious impairment and it should be taken

>>>>> seriously. You should have your A1C taken at least once every three

>>>>> months

>>>>> or once per quarter of a year to gage your diabetes control until you

>>>>> have

>>>>> it in fairly good control. Now read what the ADA says:

>>>>>

>>>>> American Diabetes Association Home Page

>>>>>

>>>>> A1C test

>>>>>

>>>>> Because you have diabetes, you and your doctor, diabetes educator, and

>>>>> other

>>>>> members of your health care team work to keep your blood glucose

>>>>> (sugar)

>>>>> at

>>>>> ideal levels. There are two powerful reasons to work for effective

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar control:

>>>>> List of 2 items

>>>>> . You will feel better.

>>>>> . You may prevent or delay the start of diabetes complications such as

>>>>> nerve, eye, kidney, and blood vessel damage.

>>>>> list end

>>>>>

>>>>> One way to keep track of your blood sugar changes is by checking your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar at home. These tests tell you what your blood sugar level is at

>>>>> any

>>>>> one

>>>>> time.

>>>>>

>>>>> But suppose you want to know how you've done overall. There's a test

>>>>> that

>>>>> can help. An A1C (also known as glycated hemoglobin or HbA1c) test

>>>>> gives

>>>>> you

>>>>> a

>>>>> picture of your average blood glucose control for the past 2 to 3

>>>>> months.

>>>>> The results give you a good idea of how well your diabetes treatment

>>>>> plan

>>>>> is

>>>>> working.

>>>>>

>>>>> In some ways, the A1C test is like a baseball player's season batting

>>>>> average. Both A1C and the batting average tell you about a person's

>>>>> overall

>>>>> success.

>>>>> Neither a single day's blood test results nor a single game's batting

>>>>> record

>>>>> gives the same big picture.

>>>>>

>>>>> How It Works

>>>>>

>>>>> You know from the name that the test measures something called A1C.

>>>>> You

>>>>> may

>>>>> wonder what it has to do with your blood sugar control. Hemoglobin is

>>>>> found

>>>>> inside red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to

>>>>> all

>>>>> the

>>>>> cells of the body. Hemoglobin, like all proteins, links up with sugars

>>>>> such

>>>>> as glucose.

>>>>>

>>>>> You know that when you have uncontrolled diabetes you have too much

>>>>> sugar

>>>>> in

>>>>> your bloodstream. This extra glucose enters your red blood cells and

>>>>> links

>>>>> up (or glycates) with molecules of hemoglobin. The more excess glucose

>>>>> in

>>>>> your blood, the more hemoglobin gets glycated. It is possible to

>>>>> measure

>>>>> the

>>>>> percentage of A1C in the blood. The result is an overview of your

>>>>> average

>>>>> blood glucose control for the past few months.

>>>>>

>>>>> Thanks for the Memories

>>>>>

>>>>> How does the A1C test look backward? Suppose your blood sugar was high

>>>>> last

>>>>> week. What happened? More glucose hooked up (glycated) with your

>>>>> hemoglobin.

>>>>> This week, your blood glucose is back under control. Still, your red

>>>>> blood

>>>>> cells carry the 'memory' of last week's high blood glucose in the form

>>>>> of

>>>>> more

>>>>> A1C.

>>>>>

>>>>> This record changes as old red blood cells in your body die and new

>>>>> red

>>>>> blood cells (with fresh hemoglobin) replace them. The amount of A1C in

>>>>> your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> reflects blood sugar control for the past 120 days, or the lifespan of

>>>>> a

>>>>> red

>>>>> blood cell.

>>>>>

>>>>> In a person who does not have diabetes, about 5% of all hemoglobin is

>>>>> glycated. For someone with diabetes and high blood glucose levels, the

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> level is

>>>>> higher than normal. How high the A1C level rises depends on what the

>>>>> average

>>>>> blood glucose level was during the past weeks and months. Levels can

>>>>> range

>>>>> from normal to as high as 25% if diabetes is badly out of control for

>>>>> a

>>>>> long

>>>>> time.

>>>>>

>>>>> You should have had your A1C level measured when your diabetes was

>>>>> diagnosed

>>>>> or when treatment for diabetes was started. To watch your overall

>>>>> glucose

>>>>> control,

>>>>> your doctor should measure your A1C level at least twice a year. This

>>>>> is

>>>>> the

>>>>> minimum. There are times when you need to have your A1C level tested

>>>>> about

>>>>> every 3 months. If you change diabetes treatment, such as start a new

>>>>> medicine, or if you are not meeting your blood glucose goals, you and

>>>>> your

>>>>> doctor

>>>>> will want to keep a closer eye on your control.

>>>>>

>>>>> How Does It Help Diabetes Control?

>>>>>

>>>>> How can your A1C test results help your control? Here are two

>>>>> examples.

>>>>>

>>>>> Bob D., 49 years old, has type 2 diabetes. For the past seven years,

>>>>> he

>>>>> and

>>>>> his doctor have worked to control his blood sugar levels with diet and

>>>>> diabetes

>>>>> pills. Recently, Bob's control has been getting worse. His doctor said

>>>>> that

>>>>> Bob might have to start insulin shots. But first, they agreed that Bob

>>>>> would

>>>>> try an exercise program to improve control.

>>>>>

>>>>> That was three months ago. Bob stuck to his exercise plan. Last week,

>>>>> when

>>>>> the doctor checked Bob's blood sugar, it was near the normal range.

>>>>> But

>>>>> the

>>>>> doctor

>>>>> knew a single blood test only showed Bob's control at that time. It

>>>>> didn't

>>>>> say much about Bob's overall blood sugar control.

>>>>>

>>>>> The doctor sent a sample of Bob's blood to the lab for an A1C test.

>>>>> The

>>>>> test

>>>>> results would tell how well Bob's blood sugar had been controlled, on

>>>>> average,

>>>>> for the past few months. The A1C test showed that Bob's control had

>>>>> improved. With the A1C results, Bob and the doctor had proof that the

>>>>> exercise program

>>>>> was working. The test results also helped Bob know that he could make

>>>>> a

>>>>> difference in his blood sugar control.

>>>>>

>>>>> The A1C test can also help someone with type 1 diabetes. Nine-year-old

>>>>>

>>>>> J. and her parents were proud that she could do her own insulin shots

>>>>> and

>>>>> urine

>>>>> tests. Her doctor advised her to begin a routine of two shots a day

>>>>> and

>>>>> to

>>>>> check her blood sugar as well.

>>>>>

>>>>> kept records of all her test results. Most were close to the

>>>>> ideal

>>>>> range. But at her next checkup, the doctor checked her blood and found

>>>>> her

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar level was high. The doctor sent a sample of 's blood for an

>>>>> A1C

>>>>> test. The results showed that 's blood glucose control had in fact

>>>>> been

>>>>> poor

>>>>> for the last few months.

>>>>>

>>>>> 's doctor asked to do a blood sugar check. To the doctor's

>>>>> surprise, turned on the timer of her meter before pricking her

>>>>> finger

>>>>> and putting

>>>>> the blood drop on the test strip. The doctor explained to and her

>>>>> parents that the way was testing was probably causing the blood

>>>>> sugar

>>>>> test

>>>>> errors.

>>>>>

>>>>> With time and more accurate blood sugar results, and her parents

>>>>> got

>>>>> better at using her results to keep food, insulin, and exercise in

>>>>> balance.

>>>>> At

>>>>> later checkups, her blood sugar records and the A1C test results

>>>>> showed

>>>>> good

>>>>> news about her control.

>>>>>

>>>>> A1C tests can help:

>>>>> List of 3 items

>>>>> . Confirm self-testing results or blood test results by the doctor

>>>>> . Judge whether a treatment plan is working

>>>>> . Show you how healthy choices can make a difference in diabetes

>>>>> control.

>>>>> list end

>>>>>

>>>>> Test Limit

>>>>>

>>>>> Although the A1C test is an important tool, it can't replace daily

>>>>> self-testing of blood glucose. A1C tests don't measure your day-to-day

>>>>> control. You can't

>>>>> adjust your insulin on the basis of your A1C tests. That's why your

>>>>> blood

>>>>> sugar checks and your log results are so important to staying in

>>>>> effective

>>>>> control.

>>>>>

>>>>> It is important to know that different labs measure A1C levels in

>>>>> different

>>>>> ways. If you sent one sample of your blood to four different labs, you

>>>>> might

>>>>> get back four different test results.

>>>>>

>>>>> For example, an 8 at one lab might mean that blood glucose levels have

>>>>> been

>>>>> in the near-normal range. At a second lab, a 9 might be a sign that,

>>>>> on

>>>>> average,

>>>>> blood glucose was high. This doesn't mean that any of the results are

>>>>> wrong. It does mean that what your results say depends on the way the

>>>>> lab

>>>>> does

>>>>> the test.

>>>>>

>>>>> Talk to your doctor about your A1C test results. Know that if you

>>>>> change

>>>>> doctors or your doctor changes labs, your test numbers may need to be

>>>>> " read "

>>>>> differently.

>>>>>

>>>>> The A1C test alone is not enough to measure good blood sugar control.

>>>>> But

>>>>> it

>>>>> is good resource to use along with your daily blood sugar checks, to

>>>>> work

>>>>> for

>>>>> the best possible control.

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>

>>>>>