It's been a while since I made a post to this board, but think Warren and/or Jeannie143 might remember me. I was the non-diabetic (male/71; 5'8" 145 lbs) who was worried about the readings on his 2005 annual physical report. I was advised not to test so often and enjoy life, which I have been attempting to do. I recently had my yearly (2006) physical and was surprised when the nurse read the findings over the telephone. She said my A1C was 5.9 (within the 4-6 range), but I noticed it was up from my previous report of 5.2. Since the 2005 report, I thought my next report would show a much lower A1C reading, because I had given up some foods that I had been eating, but found out were not well-balanced foods. Such as Eddys low fat/low sugar ice cream, which I ate almost every other day. I also gave up the small rice cakes that I ate daily (thinking they were healthy); also gave up daily large bowl of puffed-rice cereal (with banana) that I also thought was healthy. (Switched to AllBran with unsweetened Soy and few drops of Stevia.) Also gave up once-a-week Chinese food (peppers and steak). I never eat bread, potatoes, etc. Eat mostly ShadyBrook turkey and green vegetables about 3PM. At about 9 or 10PM I usually have a large lettuce salad with small tomatoes, 1/2 can tuna fish (water/low sodium,) 1/2 tbsp low-fat mayo and several tbsp of olive oil. Dannon carb and sugar control with a little redi-whip on it; maybe two a day and some unsalted peanuts and grapefruit as snacks. I now drink diet 7Up (sweetened with Splenda) instead of regular diet soda. I walk at least 2 miles every day.
I was also told my Glucose was a little high at 103. Last year it was 111, but the range at that time was 65-109. This year they told me the lab now has a range of 65-99. (Nurse said not to worry about the 103 as my A1C was still within range.) My cholesterold was 217; which went up a bit. HDL was 90 (range 40-59) which also went up a bit - and 69 in 2005 (range 30-70 then). Don't know if HDL can go too high or whether 90 is TOO high. The Chol/HDL Ratio was 2.4. (My friend said if cholesterol is a bit high [in older persons], it is okay as long as HDL is also high. But bad if cholesterol is a bit high and LDL is quite high.) Triglycerides - 63. LDL - 104. PSA - 1.95.
Usually when I took a fasting test at home, the readings were always about 85-95. If I try a different food, I always take a BS reading 90 (120) minutes later and result is usually about 120-130.
My friend, who is 75 and has been Type 1 for forty years (recent open heart surgery) just said not to worry about it (the 5.9). He said every year that you get older several of your readings will tend to rise and he also said when you go to a doctor's office you tend to be on the nervous side. He also said that 5.9 is still within the range; so, don't worry about it.
But I am quite worried about the A1C going up to 5.9 (from 5.2) after giving up the Eddys, rice cakes, puffed rice, Chinese food, etc. I thought the reading would be much, much lower.
Why, when eating the Eddys, rice cakes, puffed rice, Chinese food, etc, my A1C would be 5.2; and then, after giving all those things up - why my A1C would be 5.9? Even though my BS went from 111 (2005) to 103 (2006). Most of my previous year's Glucose was always a bit high, but this year's 103 was the lowest.
Sorry for the long post but I have no one here to talk to and writing does relieve a bit of stress. And guess I am looking for a bit of assurance. And recent visits to urologist haven't helped calm things down.
Bob (long term worrier)
(Just an aside - while the nurse was drawing blood, she put some of the blood on a strip which was in a small (black) monitor, similar to my Contour, but black. A minute or so later she said is was 121 or normal. I told her I always got 85-95 at home when doing a fasting test. She then went on to explain that this was a different machine, whatever that meant. Even though that said 121, the test from lab (as I said) had 103. I don't know what the 121 was. Maybe it is a different machine or maybe it was because I was nervous, rushing, etc.)