My Mother's A1C is in the 6's... Her Doc says it's fine (she's supposedly non-diabetic).


A while back, I mentioned here that I'd been checking Mom's BG with a
meter. I'm diabetic, and she had gestational Diabetes, so I was
concerned. Her meter readings were not great:

Often, after eating moderate (under 30) carb meal, she would hit the
150's. at one hour. Sometimes, I've caught her as high as 189 after a
more carby meal, but I've yet to test her after eating something
sugary.

What sent up red flags for me is that after eating almost identical
moderate-carb meals, with me eating about twice as much (hence twice
the carbs), her BG usually exceeds mine (I'm a T2, on metformin).

Her last lab FBG was 89, also higher than mine.

Basically, I was very concerned, but her Doc wasn't, and declined to
add an A1C or FBG to her next lab test. So, when he gave her an order
*** for a blood test (lipids only) I took my pen and added a few
checks to the order ***, including FBG and HB1AC (there was no
reason not to, as she was having a blood draw anyway).

Mom had this test right before leaving the country for the UK, as she
would be having a Doc's appointment upon her return. In the months
prior to the test, Mom had been eating moderate carb, due to me fixing
most of her meals (she lives nearby, and I was cooking for both of
us).

So, she had her Doc's visit yesterday, and bought home the test
results like I asked. The FGB was 91 this time, and the A1C was 6.1!!!

This was troubling to me as it sounds awfully high for a "non
diabetic", especially combined with her meter readings. For
comparison, mine is 5.5, and that's after being sloppy for a couple of
months (I'm back on the wagon now, though).

Mom is in her late 70's, and about 20 lbs overweight. She also
exercises regularly (usually aerobics) and goes hiking and ballroom
dancing several times a week.

I've told Mom that I think it's something worth looking into, but
nothing to get stressed about.

As for her Doc, he just said the 6.1 was "fine and normal" in spite of
the H (for high) on her test ***, and birched a lot that I'd added
tests to the order ***.

Any input would be appreciated. I hope I'm worried for nothing, but I
do find these numbers troubling.


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