So if someone has an A1c of 6, what BS number does that correspond to?

May 17, 2006

And if it is less than 6, say 5.5, what would that be. Mine was 10.8,

so what number would that be.

Margaret

May 17, 2006

>

> And if it is less than 6, say 5.5, what would that be. Mine was 10.8,

> so what number would that be.

>

> Margaret

There is a table here:

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/uq1181abc.asp

5.5 around 110

10.8 around 270

These numbers are APPROXIMATE.

If you test once a day...fasting; and that blood sugar is always 110, does

NOT mean you will have an A1C of 5.5...

If your untested blood sugars are much higher than 110, your A1C will be

higher than 5.5

This is a 3 month (approximately) average of your blood sugar at the time

the blood cells are made. Since your body produces blood cells

continuously, every blood sugar level throughout the day, all 24 hours of

it, is included in this reading.

Mike

May 17, 2006

Here is some more info about the A1C test:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HbA1c

Mike

>

> And if it is less than 6, say 5.5, what would that be. Mine was 10.8,

> so what number would that be.

>

> Margaret

>

> Diabetes homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/diabetes/

>

> To unsubscribe to this group, send an email to:

> diabetes-unsubscribe

> Hope you come back soon!

>

May 18, 2006

Wikipedia entries should always be treated with caution, they are sometimes

very suspect in factual content.

Take care. Barry UK

----- Original Message -----

To: diabetes >

Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 2:29 AM

> Here is some more info about the A1C test:

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HbA1c

>

> Mike

May 18, 2006

>

> Wikipedia entries should always be treated with caution, they are

> sometimes

> very suspect in factual content.

>

> Take care. Barry UK

Why not read it before you condem it? There are also a couple of good links

there as well.

May 18, 2006

>

> Wikipedia entries should always be treated with caution, they are

> sometimes

> very suspect in factual content.

>

> Take care. Barry UK

>

Very true, although I have often found them to give a good general overview

of a topic, such as in this case.

I think the important thing for anyone to remember is that the A1C is an

*average*. As Mike pointed out, if your fasting number every day is 100 and

that's all you check, that doesn't mean your A1C will necessarily be

5.0(the corollary to an average BG of 100). Maybe you're going up

pretty high

after meals. That's why the A1C is important: because it shows you your

overall average, including the times you did check and the times you didn.'t

Molly

May 18, 2006

The links Eunice provided for A1C measurements are exact numbers so

there is no guessing. I've used other charts before and mostly they

are too far off to get a real good idea. Again, I recommend printing

out that info on the link Eunice provided. They even have a pocket

version.

I was about to provide that link myself til I saw she already did. I

keep my copy inside my diabetes binder where I keep my food diaries.

When I see my averages from my meter I can check it and see somewhat

how I am doing with A1C as I go along. It is a great help.

May 18, 2006

Mike,

I use a Free Style Flash glucometer. I have no idea whether it tests plasma

or the other kind (forgot the name) of blood.

Does it matter?

And I am totally confused on this one: The first number that appears on the

monitor is a 14 day average of the BSs I've taken. How does this differ

from the A1C?

I am under the impression that since I am controlling my BS#s through diet

and no meds, the relative number is what I am looking for- i.e., I don't

really want my 2hr post meal BS# to be over 140. I'd like my morning

fasting # to be no higher than 120. And as my dr told me if I go up to 170

for 3 days without dropping down I should call him. this has never

happened so I am not terribly worried. I am not even 'required' to call in

my BS#s weekly - just call if I hit 170 for 3 days etc.

So I am watching, taking BS#s for new foods or new meals, both before and

after new foods to see what I can and can't eat to stay within the above

goals.

Can you give me your thoughts on that - anyone else too :-)

thanks

JUDITH

==

> There is a table here:

>

> http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/uq1181abc.asp

>

> 5.5 around 110

>

> 10.8 around 270

>

> These numbers are APPROXIMATE.

>

> If you test once a day...fasting; and that blood sugar is always 110, does

> NOT mean you will have an A1C of 5.5...

>

> If your untested blood sugars are much higher than 110, your A1C will be

> higher than 5.5

>

> This is a 3 month (approximately) average of your blood sugar at the time

> the blood cells are made. Since your body produces blood cells

> continuously, every blood sugar level throughout the day, all 24 hours of

> it, is included in this reading.

>

> Mike

>

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May 18, 2006

>

> And I am totally confused on this one: The first number that appears on

> the

> monitor is a 14 day average of the BSs I've taken. How does this differ

> from the A1C?

>

I will give this one a shot. In simple terms (because those are the only

ones I understand, ah ha ha), the A1C is a measure of how much glucose (aka,

sugar) has attached to your red blood cells. Red blood cells have a

lifespan of 2-3 months or so, so by measuring how much glucose they have

attached to them, you can get an idea of what your blood sugar has been

doing over the past 2-3 months. The number is weighted more heavily towards

the most recent month or so, I believe.

The average on your meter is the average of all the numbers you have checked

over the past 14 days. It can be a helpful indicator of how your overall

control is, but it only measures THE TIMES YOU CHECKED. Your A1C number is

a measure of what your blood sugar has been doing 24/7 around the clock for

the previous month or two.

I hope that helps? I know some people provided some links explaining A1C

more thoroughly, earlier in this conversation.

Molly

May 18, 2006

-

> And I am totally confused on this one: The first number that

appears on the

> monitor is a 14 day average of the BSs I've taken. How does this differ

> from the A1C?

>

The 14 day average is only an average of the BG's you have actually

tested yourself for. It does not take into account all of those you

did not know about. The A1C takes into account all numbers up and

down, highest and lowest. Your 14-day average would not show this

obviously since you are not continuously monitoring your BG all day

and all night. The 14-day average is a general idea of how you are

doing with what you have tested. For instance if you had many highs

missed you could end up with an A1C higher than your average shows on

the meter average. A1C results are going to be the whole picture not

part of the picture.

May 18, 2006

Molly,

Yup, that helps! Thanks....

Now I have to figure out why my BS#s are coming down even with food becoming

sloppy.

Judith

>

> I will give this one a shot. In simple terms (because those are the only

> ones I understand, ah ha ha), the A1C is a measure of how much glucose

(aka,

> sugar) has attached to your red blood cells. Red blood cells have a

> lifespan of 2-3 months or so, so by measuring how much glucose they have

> attached to them, you can get an idea of what your blood sugar has been

> doing over the past 2-3 months. The number is weighted more heavily

towards

> the most recent month or so, I believe.

>

> The average on your meter is the average of all the numbers you have

checked

> over the past 14 days. It can be a helpful indicator of how your overall

> control is, but it only measures THE TIMES YOU CHECKED. Your A1C number

is

> a measure of what your blood sugar has been doing 24/7 around the clock

for

> the previous month or two.

>

> I hope that helps? I know some people provided some links explaining A1C

> more thoroughly, earlier in this conversation.

>

> Molly

>

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May 18, 2006

Thanks!

Judith

> The 14 day average is only an average of the BG's you have actually

> tested yourself for. It does not take into account all of those you

> did not know about. The A1C takes into account all numbers up and

> down, highest and lowest. Your 14-day average would not show this

> obviously since you are not continuously monitoring your BG all day

> and all night. The 14-day average is a general idea of how you are

> doing with what you have tested. For instance if you had many highs

> missed you could end up with an A1C higher than your average shows on

> the meter average. A1C results are going to be the whole picture not

> part of the picture.

>

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May 18, 2006

what happen to the red blood cell after 3 months , do they go a way or do they

attach to your arthery ?? I'm new at these and trying to learn all I can becaue

I have hart problems too , I had two hart attcks and just got out of the

hospital with my COPD .I guess I had and infection in my lungs. They do tell you

anything at all because I learn I had diebetes was from my hart docter because

he has the hospital for my rectors an Then he ask me if I had diabetes becaue my

blood sugar was 260 when I was admitted in the hospital and I went to my doctor

and then he did more blood work and conferm I do know. I have olsar on both feet

and the one I had 5 years . And finaly they are starting to heal.

Your truly Charlie

mkcheerfulheart joyfulhearts4him@...> wrote: