Posted by John C. Garcia under
DiabetesNo Comments
A little over year ago, 2006, at the age of 57 I weighed 252 pounds at 6’ 1”, I was overweight. Even though I am large framed by most standards I have found, I should have weighed less than 190 pounds. Therefore, by all tables I could find, I could have been classified “Obese” by at least 62 pounds.
In early October 2006 I was buying Dr. Pepper by the 24 pack and consuming up to 4 cans a day. I was over eating as a way to deal with job stress. Most of the time I was eating convenient food. I was tired at the end of most days. I hadn’t exercised for a least a couple of years.
Near the end of October I was eating more, but beginning to lose weight as well beginning to drink larger quantities of fluids. In this case it was Dr. Pepper. I had lost interest in sex and the ability to perform sex was waning. I has noticed a more callus build up on my feet. I was eating more and yet I was hungry before the next meal. I was also making more frequent trips to the bathroom. Worst of all I was unaware of the obvious early symptoms of diabetes.
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Posted by John C. Garcia under
Diabetes1 Comment
The HbA1c blood test is a measure of glucose levels on your blood. It measures the average levels glucose attachment to red blood cells that is the result over time, about three months. Generally the result is percent of glucose attachment to red blood cells. A test result of 5% - 6% is considered a normal level. It’s a good measure because it’s a long term number. You cannot cheat this result.
Your daily meter glucose reading is a spot reading. It is the level of glucose attachment to your red blood cells at the exact time you took the measurement. A test result is measured in milligrams of glucose per deciliters of blood. A test result of 70 mg/dL - 140 mg/dL is considered a normal level. If you don’t eat and take sample every 15 minutes for the next two hours it should drop. Eat something and it should climb again.
Try taking you daily meter glucose results for about a two weeks the find the simple average. Now you have an idea of what your HbA1c is all about.
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