Glucose test results at odds

[ireneo]

I usually post on the heart board for my issues but my husband has come up with something odd concerning his (fasting) blood glucose levels. For the past year his tests keep coming back over 100 - say 105, 101 - so not high but above normal. The doc keeps testing, same result. This last time they did a different test too, an A1C (?) That came back as well below the limit: 5.2 (range is 4.0 to 5.7) while the same blood sample came back over 100 for the standard test. How can this be? My husband is 56, 5'7" tall, 150lbs (no weight problems there) and extremely active. He did send an email to his doc about the results but he's out for the next week or so. Anyone else have conflicting blood work like this? Doesn't seem possible.

[Forum-VOL-CB]

I am no doctor, but from what I understand, it's just the long-term sugar levels you need to worry  about, and his A1Cs are great! Short-term doesn't matter. Maybe he just metabolizes things a little differently. But as long as his overal blood sugar is so good, it seems like he's in good shape.

[quatlox]

A 5.2 A1C reading would be correct if he has had blood sugars running 100, 105, 101 etc...  On the scale: 100 = 5.0 A1C, 135 = 6.0 A1C so a 5.2  = 107 A1C.  That would sound normal if he has been a little over 100 to have a 5.2 A1C.

Bob

[quatlox]

Sorry, I ment to say a 107 = 5.2 A1C.  Sometimes I mean well, but it just comes out backwards.
Bob

[MomOfTwoGrls]

an A1C is a 3 month range of what your blood sugars are doing.  The standard test is what is blood sugar was at the time of the blood withdrawal.  Hope that helps.  Sounds like his A1C is awesome and you shouldn't worry.  

[ireneo]

Thanks for your replies. The only comment that's a little different than what we found was the conversion of 5.2 to the other reading. According to Wikipedia an A1C of 5 is equal to 80 and 6 is equal to 120 - a 40 point difference. That would be 4 points for each 0.1 of A1C. Following me so far? If I'm correct then a 5.2 would be more like 88, not 100 and something.  If Wikipedia is correct then his tests are still strange, the A1C would be 88 and the regular was over 100. Wish I understood how all this worked, just to satisfy my curiosity. But this past year of readings over 100 has made my husband a bit nervous. Again, thanks for the input.

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

You might want to do a Google search on the "dawn phenomenon". Some people (not everybody) for some reason find that their blood sugar levels rise each morning after they get up. This could be what is happening to your husband... he may be one of these folks. Which would mean that his glucose levels may be lower while he is sleeping and may actually drop lower also during the day, but may rise a little first thing in the morning. The a1c is the true test for how well or poorly his pancreas is doing its job, and his a1c levels are perfect!