If you are a type 1 diabetic like myself, you know that Hemoglobin A1c is a measure of your average glucose over the past 2-3 months. It is presented to you multiple times a year in the form of a percentage. The higher your glucose levels, the higher the percentage and vice versa. If you happen to meet another T1 you might discuss HA1c, however you would never have the guts to ask. It's a taboo subject. It's synonymous with asking how much they weigh or how old they are. It's off limits. Because it is a way of comparison, a way of telling how well you are managing your disease compared to others. And since this number is controllable (for the most part) by you, it becomes a competition. How low can I go? How am I doing compared to others?
At one of our first meet ups for Young and Type 1, I was introduced to Jacob, a 21 year old male with T1. He sat down on the sofa with his coffee, introduced himself and proclaimed, to prove to all of you that I am diabetic, I'm going to measure my glucose right now. He then proceeded to whip his meter out of his backpack and take his blood sugar. Since you are all wondering what it is I'll show you. He then flipped around his meter and to reveal his result of 96. And thing is, we did want to know. Badly. We all wanted to know.
So what does Hemoglobin A1c really mean for us diabetics?
This is THE number that determines whether we are in control or out of control. It is the primary tool we have to measure our success or failure. It is the number that every physician wants to know. It is the number we measure ourselves by or try not to measure ourselves by. It is the number no one wants to reveal. It is the number we feel self-conscious about and the number we strive to have lower and lower. It is the number we celebrate and the number that can cause tears. If you want to become pregnant, like myself, it is the bane of your existence for months. It determines whether or not your womb is safe to be occupied. Everything weighs on this number. Which is why I am happy to report most recent result of 6.0% that I thought was impossible to achieve.
Yet, does everything really weigh on this number? My current targets are 70-100 before meals, 140 one hour post meal, 120 two hours post meal. That's a narrow range I have to keep. If I am able to maintain these targets consistently, my average would be 105 which is the equivalent of an HA1c of 5.3%. However if I maintain a range of 30-180, my average is also 105 or 5.3%. The latter is not necessarily a place I want to be in, yet would I be satisfied with a number of 5.3% even if I was bouncing from 30 to 180 each day? While I strive to have my number lower and lower and wait in anticipation for each result, I try to remember that this number is not flawless. It is simple math, an AVERAGE, which might not always tell the whole story. It is not the bane of my existence nor the sole measure of how well I am managing my diabetes. Nonetheless, with my number of 6.0%, I've been cleared to put a bun in the oven and it's not going to get burnt. I feel good about that.
Hey, congrats! That’s really good. I’d rather fluctuate in a consistent range and have a 6 than have wild swings and be in the 5 club. I hope your baking project goes smoothly. 
Congratulations!!! confetti falling It’s a dicipline like no other, but gosh…so worth it. Very happy for you.
I have given up using my daily numbers and A1C as a determination of what kind of person I am, what kind of diabetic I am. It is a number, just like my phone number, my address, my weight, my height, my GPA, etc. It helps me gauge how I am doing as far as eating habits, exercise, meds, etc. But it doesn’t tell you a darn about who or what I am like. It is a number. I am a type II, my last A1C was higher than I like it at 7.3; my weight was higher than I like it 203, and my FBS this am was 97. Now does that tell you anything really about me, not a bit. It doesn’t tell you that I am a fabulous cook, an artist of paper art, a mother of 2 grown well defined young men, a wife of 32 years, the caretaker of 2 adorable beagles, an ex teacher, a supportive community member, or that I gave up chocolate M&M’s the day I found out I had diabetes. It doesn’t tell you that I played goal keeper for my soccer team, or that I am losing my hair due to male pattern baldness. That I have a fantastic sense of humor, or am a survivor of several types of abuse. Careful with numbers and judgements, it just a number which is supposed to be a help in working towards health.
Great post Abbey! I try not to let what my A1C is effect my life, I’ve been very fortunate that even as an “evil diabetic” since A1C’s came into play - I’ve managed to keep at 7% (last one was 5.9%). It’s funny tho’, when I’ve asked people at diabetic meetings (I used to be President of the West Island Diabetes Association) - they would either a) look at me with disgust (and that’s even with me wearing my Bozo the Clown nose at the podium); b) say “I don’t know”; c) rarely did they tell me. As you can see, I didn’t last long in that job, I quit, because there was no use in educating them (and they were mainly Type 2’s - who I was hoping would want to know more - and stay away “from the light” of going onto insulin injections, etc.).
So, bravo with your A1C!!! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for all the comments guys! Glad you can connect in one way or another.