#243 Defining Diabetes: A1c
Scott Benner
Defining Diabetes: A1c
Scott and Jenny Smith, CDE define the terms at the center of your type 1 diabetes care
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Scott Benner 0:00
In this episode of defining diabetes, Jenny Smith and I are going to define a one C, defining diabetes is made possible by Dexcom on the pod and dancing for diabetes. Please remember that nothing you hear on the Juicebox Podcast should be considered advice, medical or otherwise, always consult a physician before becoming bold with insulin, or making any changes to your medical plan.
A one c Jenny, we're going to define a one c because some people like to say it out all fancy, right? How do they say it those people who like to give the actual letters the BDC, GG afterwards or whatever, what's the whole thing?
Jennifer Smith, CDE 0:42
hemoglobin, a one C is essentially the full term for it, right? hemoglobin a one C, typically, it's tested anywhere between two to four times a year by most and knows or primary care doctors. And essentially shows how well blood sugars have been controlled over about a three month time period, mainly because it refers to the life cycle of your red blood cells. And that's the hemoglobin part of a one fee. the life cycle of a red blood cell is such that you have turnover about every 90 days. So about every three months, you've got this turnover of red blood cells. And with hemoglobin being a piece of it and the glucose sticking to the hemoglobin, then we can measure overall the amount of sugar that was circulating within that three month time period. Now one other piece to a one C is knowing that the month closer to the draw for a one fee has more weight into the a one c value, then the three month ago. Month. Does that make sense? No.
Scott Benner 1:59
Sad again.
Jennifer Smith, CDE 2:00
Because the rates of the blood cell turnover, you are going to have more, I guess, more impact and more of those new blood cells within the past 30 days than the ones from three months ago. So many people say well, I had you know I had anyone see done, you know, three months ago, but in the past three or four weeks, I was in Italy on vacation eating all the pizzas in the whole entire country. I had a honeymoon or I had whatever. And man my blood sugar's were like all over the place. Well, it's probably not as indicative of an A one see them as it may have been over the course of three months. Because this past month has been crazy. Right?
Scott Benner 2:43
Okay, Isaac, Isaac, that makes sense. It does now, because I paid more attention. It's not that you didn't explain it? Well, the first night, it got a little too technical for my little head. But and back in the day, right? far enough ago, this was the only real measurement we had of people's, you know, quote unquote, success with their diabetes. Right? Your agency was your doctor looked at your agency and said, this is your average blood sugar for the last 30 days for 90 days. Right. And that was it right? There's so much conversation around a once a, you know, some people feel like it's a test that they pass or fail, some people are scared to go get it because they don't want to hear, you know, you're gonna hear annoying people like me tell you that I don't really worry about it anymore. Because I have an expectation of where it's going to be in it mostly goes where I expect it to be. It's not even something I think about anymore, to a great extent. But there's more that goes to it. So as you're listening to this definitions, you're going to hear one about time and range, and variability and things like that. And try to think of those all together. Defining diabetes on the Juicebox Podcast is brought to you by Dexcom. On the pause and dancing for diabetes, there are links in the show notes at Juicebox podcast.com to all the wonderful sponsors. But if you want to find out more about getting a free no obligation demo valmy pod, you can go to my on the pod.com forward slash juice box to get started on the Dexcom g six continuous glucose monitor dexcom.com forward slash juice box and to learn about the good that's being done at dancing for diabetes, go to dancing the number four diabetes.com Thanks for checking out defining diabetes. Come back every Friday is Jenny and I break down a new word or phrase that is impacting your life with Type One Diabetes. And since you're still here, I don't really say this very often, but you could follow me on Facebook or Instagram. I'm actually on my blog and podcast pages on Facebook. I'm now at bold with insulin on Facebook and Instagram. They won't let me merge them together. I would the biggest most active account is at Juicebox Podcast but they're still at art in this day and I started at bold with insulin hoping that one day I'd be able to blend them all together. For now though, I believe at Juicebox Podcast is the way to go on Instagram Juicebox Podcast is on Twitter and you know it's pretty much everywhere but I really find Instagram and Facebook to be the most active. By the way, those of you who are asking for t shirts, you got to me I'm working on it. Hold tight.
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