Is the A1C really accurate? I know the morning "jab' probably isn't...I just want to make sure I am not closer to diabetes than what the tests are saying...and that I am not more than pre-diabetes or borderline..
there are times when I take my blood and it isn't in the range it should be..and I know if I ever had to drink that orange stuff (gag me), I bet I wouldn't be in a non-zone...so I just wanted to know if A1C is good and accurate...sometimes 2 hours after eating I am still up there..so at 3 hours I will take my blood again just because when I am not in a normal range it freaks me out til I get there so I want to know if i have gotten there and it will be HIGHER..what is the deal? Or does this not even matter...if at 3 hours it is high or that it won't go down below 150 for several hours...what does this mean? is it important..the drs. don't know this, should they?

Is the A1C really accurate? I know the morning "jab' probably isn't...I just want to make sure I am not closer to diabetes than what the tests are saying...and that I am not more than pre-diabetes or borderline..
there are times when I take my blood and it isn't in the range it should be..and I know if I ever had to drink that orange stuff (gag me), I bet I wouldn't be in a non-zone...so I just wanted to know if A1C is good and accurate...sometimes 2 hours after eating I am still up there..so at 3 hours I will take my blood again just because when I am not in a normal range it freaks me out til I get there so I want to know if i have gotten there and it will be HIGHER..what is the deal? Or does this not even matter...if at 3 hours it is high or that it won't go down below 150 for several hours...what does this mean? is it important..the drs. don't know this, should they?

Yes, the a1c is an accurate test. It is given in a percentage (it is the percentage of hemoglobin that has sugar attached to it) and this percentage can be translated into an average glucose. This average is for the last 3 months (which is why they only have you do it 4 times per year) but is most accurate for the last 6 weeks.

Just thought you'd want to know that the commonly used term now is "pre-diabetes". Not very many health care professionals use the term "borderline" anymore. I suspect because it does sound less serious.

If your blood sugar is still at 150 three or more hours after the start of your meal, then yes, you should discuss it with your doctor. Also talk to the doc about seeing a diabetes educator and/or a dietician. They will help you get on the right track with good foods that won't spike your sugar too much and help you get a life plan in place.

Good luck.

Cora