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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 2 Feb 2015
Question: I have a 6.2 A.1c.Just got that result. Also my TSH is .104. I have asthma COPD. I'm having mild asthma all the time now and had a severe attack Tuesday night which I treated with my nebulizer. My pulmonary specialist just set me up for a 5 day prednisone treatment from a phone call. This will increase my A1c. Tiredness and breathing difficulties are both symptoms of hypothyroidism and I'm planning on increasing my Armour thyroid which is 90 MG now to 120MG . Should I hold off on the prednisone for a few days to see if the increased thyroid meds help? Or, should I take both and not worry about the increased blood sugar? These are two different doctors. YYYY@YYYY
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Answered by Dr. Michelle Gibson James (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
would not affect HbA1c

Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic

If you are a know diabetic, this HbA1c value is very good. The goal is less than 7 though some persons aim for less than 6.5.
Your value of 6.2 is below both of these so it is very good and mean that you have good blood sugar control.


It is important to remember that HbA1C is not based on blood sugars of the same day or even the same week.

The HbA1c gives an idea of blood sugar levels over a 3 month period. It lets a doctor know how the persons blood sugar levels have been over this time.

Even if you use the prednisolone for the 5 day period, because HbA1c is 3 monthly, the steroid would not have a significant long term effect.

When your HbA1c is repeated in 3 months, the effect of this course of steroid would not affect that value one way or another.
It may affect daily blood sugars but not HbA1c.

It would have a short term effect of your blood sugars but since the HbA1c indicates that they are in good control then it is unlikely that with this short course that they would go very high.

Summary: (1) HbA1c reflects 3 monthly control so steroids would not have an effect
(2)based on the HbA1c , your blood sugar control is very good and it should not increase too much beyond normal with this short course of steriod
(3)you should use the steroids as prescribed
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Michelle Gibson James

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 16808 Questions

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What Does My Blood Test Report Indicate?

Brief Answer: would not affect HbA1c Detailed Answer: HI, thanks for using healthcare magic If you are a know diabetic, this HbA1c value is very good. The goal is less than 7 though some persons aim for less than 6.5. Your value of 6.2 is below both of these so it is very good and mean that you have good blood sugar control. It is important to remember that HbA1C is not based on blood sugars of the same day or even the same week. The HbA1c gives an idea of blood sugar levels over a 3 month period. It lets a doctor know how the persons blood sugar levels have been over this time. Even if you use the prednisolone for the 5 day period, because HbA1c is 3 monthly, the steroid would not have a significant long term effect. When your HbA1c is repeated in 3 months, the effect of this course of steroid would not affect that value one way or another. It may affect daily blood sugars but not HbA1c. It would have a short term effect of your blood sugars but since the HbA1c indicates that they are in good control then it is unlikely that with this short course that they would go very high. Summary: (1) HbA1c reflects 3 monthly control so steroids would not have an effect (2)based on the HbA1c , your blood sugar control is very good and it should not increase too much beyond normal with this short course of steriod (3)you should use the steroids as prescribed I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions