A1C Glucose Relationship
Why my A1C & glucose are unrelated? If you are one among them, then read on for clarification. A1C and glucose level is closely related; however, often, it appears to be unrelated. The A1C test is a blood test that reflects the average blood glucose level over the last two to three months. The glucose test is a measure of BS level in that instance. Now, imagine your vehicle speedometer, it shows speed in kph (kilometers covered per hour). Imagine odometer shows total kilometers covered from day one to the present date. Your glucose test shows blood glucose at that instant during the day. In many other instances, you may have a lot of blood glucose highs or lows. That is why you end up with an unrelated hba1c as compared with a glucose reading. Why are my A1C and blood glucose unrelated? A1C and blood glucose are two different but related things. For unknown reasons, some peoples' A1C may not reflect their average blood glucose.
The A1C test has some limitations. Imagine two people (A & B) have an A1C of 7% and an estimated average blood sugar of 154 mg/dl or 8.6 mmol. Say A’s blood sugar has been on a roller coaster. It soars up to 300 mg/dl or blood sugar health support 17 mmol before crashing back down (low blood sugars) to 40 mg/dl or Glyco Carewhite mulberry leaf 2 mmol. On average, these severe highs & lows average out to about 150 mg/dl. Say B has 90 days of blood sugars around 150 mg/dl or 8.6 mmol. Which one has a higher risk of complications, A or B? The problem with the A1C test is that frequent low blood sugars can lead to a lower A1C. If you want to reduce complications, it is crucial to maintain good BS most of the time. Even a slightly high A1C is better if there are fewer or no low blood sugars.
What is the relation between Fasting Glucose and HbA1c? A1C has a less consistent relationship with fasting glucose levels. Wong TY, Liew G, Tapp RJ, Glyco Care glucose support Schmidt MI, Wang JJ, Mitchell P, Klein R, Klein BEK, Zimmet P, Shaw J . Relation between fasting glucose and retinopathy for diagnosis of diabetes: three population-based cross-sectional studies. What does it mean if you have high A1C and healthy blood sugar? Normal BS reading indicates good BS at that instant and appears to be in tight control. However, high A1C indicates your BS in other instances is unhealthy and not in strict control. Alternatively, it means your diabetes control was not well past 1 or 2 months which appeared in your A1C result. However, presently, you are in reasonable control which is indicated by your glucose meter. What does it mean if you have normal A1C and high blood sugar? A high BS reading indicates unhealthy BS at that instant and appears to be not in proper control.
However, normal A1C indicates your BS in other instances is healthy, and you are inadequate to control. Alternatively, an excellent A1C means, you are in proper diabetes management for the past 1 or 2 months. However, high blood sugar indicates you are presently not inadequate for diabetes control. Alternatively, you may have many low BS that give good A1C and High BS. What to do if blood sugar and HbA1c result in consistent disagreement? Consult your doctor to confirm whether you are doing the self-monitoring blood sugar correctly or whether your health conditions affect the A1C result (A1C error). When do you consider the HbA1c test as inaccurate? Your HbA1c is conflicting with home glucose monitoring. For example, the blood glucose levels have been between 300 to 400s, and an HbA1c of 6% the two do not reconcile. There may be a medical condition affecting the test results. Consult your doctor; he may order a CBC test (complete blood count) to know the cause of the false A1C result.
Why sometimes the A1C number appear to be wrong? HbA1c 6.4%. At present, his numbers are fasting BS 96, postprandial BS 121, and HbA1c - 5.5%. How did his A1C value reduce from 6.4 to 5.5 in just 2.5 months? He has been on the same diet and lifestyle for the past 2.5 months. Do the last readings seem to be wrong? Recent 1 month has contributed 50% influence in the A1C and recent 50 days contribute to over 90% of A1C result. In practice, A1C is a reliable indicator of average blood sugars over the last 90 days, especially the last 60 days. What can influence A1C test accuracy? Can an A1C test give false results? A1C result depends on the health of hemoglobin. A less common form of hemoglobin (variant) or unhealthy cells can give a false result. 1. Unhealthy hemoglobin conditions affect A1C accuracy - sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, iron deficiency, blood transfusion, kidney failure, or a similar disease.