
Mr. C had his check up today with his diabetes doctor(endocrinologist). We have been going to see him every 3 months since 2000. Each time we go in to these check ups, they do what is called an
A1C. Today, his A1C was 8.6%--and that is down from being 11% 3 months ago at his last check up.
What is an
A1C? Hemoglobin A1c, Hb1c , HbA1c, or A1C; sometimes also HgA1c is a form of hemoglobin used primarily to identify the average plasma glucose concentration over prolonged periods of time. It is formed in a non-enzymatic pathway by hemoglobin's normal exposure to high plasma levels of glucose. Glycosylation of hemoglobin has been implicated in nephropathy and retinopathy in diabetes mellitus. Monitoring the HbA1c in type-1 diabetic patients may improve treatment.
Basically, the higher the average, the higher the glucose levels are, or have been.
Below is an example of a chart that can be used to see what Colton's average is.
If your A1C is this: Your average mean daily plasma blood sugar is around this:
% mg/dl mmol/l
12.0% 345 19.5
11.0% 310 17.5
10.0% 275 15.5
9.0% 240 13.5
8.0% 205 11.5
7.0% 170 9.5
6.0% 135 7.5
5.0% 100 5.5
4.0% 65 3.5
So basically, these last three months, instead of Mr. C's average being 11% or his blood sugars consistantly being over 310, they have dropped and have been between 200 and just under 240. Yes, thats still 'high' but its better than staying way over 300 all of the time.
When he was first diagnosed with the big D, his average was over 14%--which is why we were very fortunate to have learned of his diabetes when we did.
Keep in mind, that the lower the numbers, the better the overall average, obviously.
This is part of the reason that it upsets me so much when he does NOT bolus when he eats, because he 'forgets'...you can't forget--it affects your average!
So, if you are reading this and you have heard people talking about an A1C, or you know someone who has to deal with worrying about an A1C, now ya know!
And if you do know someone who has to worry about keeping those A1Cs down---STAY ON THEM!! Make sure they do what they are suppose to do WHEN they are suppose to do it.
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