A1c is high ?

[Sweety]

Yesterday we visited some relatives. My cousin's father is a T2 for over 20 years now. Doctor has given him 3 different tablets. The names I didn't ask. I thought it rude to ask. He says he is never over 110-115 in the morning whenever he checks, yet his A1c is 7.8. His doctor says it is OK ? Is that really the case ? 

[Shanny]

Prob'ly not. Our converter indicates that an A1c of 7.8 means his average blood sugar is over 200. What does he eat? If he's serious about controlling his high blood sugar in order to live longer and better, he needs to be testing after meals, per our eat-to-your-meter technique.


But if you're afraid of being rude, then I don't see how this information can be communicated to him. After 20 years, I'm sure he thinks he has a handle on it, and his doctor backs him up. This is a universal problem, in that the medical community continues to treat diabetes like no big deal, and lets people think they're fine when they AREN'T fine!  [size=78%] [/size]

[Grammabear]

Just for what it is worth, I've found our converter to be off by a considerable amount.  I used the daily average from my meter which is a Bayer Contour Next meter and it said my A1C should be about 5.5% and it ended up being 6.2%. 

[Timewise]

Anyone who has read a lot on numbers and statistics knows that using 'averages' (also known as mean) for anything is a bad solution. You could be having some ridiculously high, highs (from stuffing with high carb foods) being offset by some ridiculously low, lows (using fast acting insulin to counter the carbs)  and still get an average that makes you feel you are ok!  Admittedly, that is an extreme example, but you get the idea.

If one really wants to look at the trends or get a clear picture develop a medium, a list of readings staring with the highest working down to the lowest.  Then find the center of that list of readings, which would be your medium.   But, what would really tell the story, is to count how many highs over 140 you have had compared to how many healthy readings....

Just food for thought, using averages is dangerous without further evaluation.....

[BobIA41]

While the A1c is high and your father probably has some complications, his situation is not that unusual for oral medications.  Most doctors are so afraid of hypoglycemia that they will not put patients on insulin until it is too late.  In other words, insulin is the medication of last resort for most people. 

Another factor is your father's age.  As people age, doctors are in the habit of looking for a higher A1c.  This is because they believe diabetes is progressive and they just accept this.  If your father is under 65 years of age, then he probably is eating too many carbohydrates and the three medications may not be able to handle his diabetes.  You need to forget being rude and have a good talk with him about his medications and what they are, so that you know and would possibly know what to suggest to him as well.  Since you are his daughter, he may not listen, but if you ask questions, you could create doubt in his mind and then he may listen and question his doctor.

Best of luck!

[skb]

Just for what it is worth, I've found our converter to be off by a considerable amount.  I used the daily average from my meter which is a Bayer Contour Next meter and it said my A1C should be about 5.5% and it ended up being 6.2%.

That depends on what formula is being used for the conversion.

The older / earlier formula was (A1c x 28.7) - 48.7 = avg BG
Then came along this one (A1c x 35.6) - 77.3 = avg BG

We've used the second one, because Dr. Bernstein uses that one, though it results in a higher A1c value from avg BG.

[Sweety]

Thanks for all the replies. I know that an A1c of 7.8 is not OK, even if the doctor thinks so.
@ Bob - He's my cousin's father. But many thanks for your very informative post.

[rocky]

u know what i think.
high a1c means high avg
no point taking only morning reading into discussion
most of the time he must be riding v high

[skb]

That's a perfect analysis rocky.
I'm really impressed.