Thursday, December 06, 2007

Numbers lie

I saw my endo yesterday. My cholesterol is still good, but slightly worse than last time so I suppose I'll have to look into that. My A1c is what it's been the whole time I've had it tested at this lab: insane. It's lower every time, too, despite my bg not changing. Now that we've kind of ruled out lab error, the only thing I can think of is that there's something weird going on with my hemoglobin.

Previously I had A1cs like 5.8%, when my postprandial numbers were a lot lower and I didn't spend a lot of time out of the normal range, although that was at a different lab. This last A1c was under 5 and I don't believe it could possibly be accurate. I've tested in the middle of the night to make sure I'm not having lows or anything. What do I think? I think my A1c should be somewhere between 5 and 6, closer to the middle. I mean, yes, it's definitely a great number, but I just don't think it's an insanely good number...for a nondiabetic. What I know about my bg doesn't support that.

So, today I'm going to have a consultation for oral surgery. That's right, my wisdom teeth are horribly impacted and they have to come out now. I haven't been able to chew in a week. I am not looking forward much to the consultation, where I have to explain not only about my insulin pump, but about the millions of other special conditions that will affect it. The surgery is already scheduled for next Friday. Eeek!

4 comments:

Christine said...

Does your doctor use an in office meter? Mine does, and it's often 1.5% lower than the lab if I go there to have it drawn. Do you ever donate blood? That tends to falsely lower my a1c too.

Lili said...

Nope, this was the lab. I don't give blood, and I'm not anemic.

Minnesota Nice said...

Lili,
i have been going to the same clinic (with lab on the premises) for 7 years and always felt smug about being able to predict my AlC within about .3 of a point, based on my log book.
Well, the last two have been off by over a point - lower in both cases. My doc said "why can't you just accept some good news for once, Kathy?" and then I felt like a CCW (certifiable crazywoman).
I have also been tested for anemia, and I take a bg reading in the middle of the night.
This is one more unsavory surprise from diabetes - nothing is predictable. And, I don't like it one bit.
Hope your procedure goes well.

Lili said...

Aww, thanks, Kathy.