I know in the US, most meters internally measure whole blood, but then the meter 'adjusts' the number and displays the equivalent plasma number. So I expect, and usually get very similar numbers when comparing my meter BG to the lab.
Many years ago, meters in US did display the reading as measured from whole blood, but I think it's been at least 15-20 years since they switched.
The detailed information sheet with meters or strips should state which method is used.
That type of trend is fairly normal for the first few months for people that experience a honeymoon period. At diagnosis the A1C will be extremely high and the body is in pretty rough condition due to the high glucose levels over the past few months. once you start on insulin, the body starts returning to normal function again and partial pancreas function returns after a month or two of being on insulin. With decent control and being on the honeymoon period, A1C value will naturally be fairly close to non diabetic range. This is very similar to my experience, my diagnosis A1C was 19 and three months later it was down to 5.7 and has stayed between 5.7 and 6.8 for the past three years.
Had mine done last Friday. 6.4 up from 6.1 but on the whole I'm pretty happy with it. Far fewer lows. But the better number was getting my LDL down to an all time low of 53. All those salads and healthy proteins are certainly making a difference and not just in the numbers but also on the scale. Unfortunately the reference range for A1C's is 4.3-6.1 so I still rated an H, but I did get an L for my cholesterol at 131 ! Amazing how numbers can brighten my day.
My last one in June was 7.6.. That's a huge yay for me!!! LOL! That is down from 9.5 in March. I see numbers like 5 - 6 and I just can't even imagine getting my numbers anywhere in that range.
I think I feel really good about getting it to 6.5, that's my goal, but little steps.
Huge yay for you !!
New numbers are in! I had a feeling the 5 was an anomaly (and, actually not at all 'real'). It was (and, it wasn't real). The lab I went to in May provided crap numbers according to my Endo (that's why he uses the lab he does). My new A1c from July 26th from my regular lab is a 6.6, much more in line with my previous 6.7 from January and 6.5 from last October.
I was very happy to see my HDL is at 70 and my LDL at 71, and I've been taking Vit D and my total is up from 'too low' to now in the target 30-100 range at a 37. Good enough for now.
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Wow! That's awesome!!