I had my A1C tested the other day right at my doctor's office - it was almost an "instant read" type of thing - nurse put the sample in a machine and had the reading in about 5 minutes. (I have no idea what type of machine i twas though, sorry). She said my A1c was good - it was a 6.
What is the "normal" range for an A1C? I've recently been diagnosed with T2. My initial glucose test (not the A1C) was listed as high on teh sheet from the lab, however, my doc said it was actually in the borderline area (I can't find the actuall lab report to give you exact numbers). Anyway, he prescribed me a monitor to test at home, as well as put me on Metformin and Glimeperide. He actually gave me the monitor a month before putting me on the meds. during the month that I was testing, but was not on any meds, my sugar levels were pretty irratic - lowest was 88 and highest was 263 - during this month I also ended up coming down with a horrible case of bronchitis and severe asthma attack, so did end up on antibiotics, cough meds, as well as a steroid shot, oral steroids and a steroid inhaler as well as my "normal" ventolin inhaler and albuterol nebulizer. At any rate, the strange thing (or strange to me) is that my highest sugar numbers actually occurred BEFORE I was put on the steroids rather than after being on them. I know they can and do affect your blood sugar (unfortunatley have had to be on them many times in my life so I'm pretty familiar with their side effects) - but this time it seemed my blood sugars actually became somewhat more regulated while I was on the meds.
Since being on the Metformin and Glimeperide, my numbers (I think) have been pretty good. My first am reading (before any food or drink) has been running between 85-103 and post-meal (2 hours after) haven't gotten any higher than 150. I have, however, had a couple of instances of lower blood sugars that have left me feeling quite shaky, headachy, etc. - lowest being 67 and I most definitely KNEW my blood sugar was low then - I drank some juice and it came up to a point where I felt better.
Doc has now increased the Metformin from 500mg twice daily to 1000 mg twice daily, but has left the Glimepiride at 1mg once daily (that low blood sugar reading was before the metformin had been incrased)
Does my A1C number sound correct? Does the increase in metformin, but staying the same wiht the other med seem logical since my numbers had already come down with the lower dose of metformin and I had had a couple of instances of low blood sugar that caused symptoms?
I'm completely new to all this blood sugar testing, T2, etc., so I'm tryin gto gather all information I can to make this "transition" easier on myself and also so maybe I can know more of what is "normal" to feel/expect and what are some things to be on teh look out for. The informational sheets that you get from the pharmacy with your meds are great, but getting first hand information from others I think is even better.
Thank you!