I’ve been curious about the home A1c tests. We have an A1c done in office every three to four months, but sometimes I wish I could check in between to see if changes we’ve made are making any difference. (And, yes I know the A1c is only one measurement of how well diabetes is being managed.)
I saw the Bayer A1cNow Selfcheck kits on sale and decided that it was worth it to buy a box and check it out. That evening I pulled it out and did the test and was absolutely SHOCKED at the number that popped up. There is NO WAY that Q’s A1c was 10.5.
That would indicate an average BG of 255. I don’t think so!
So not only was I totally upset and discouraged, but I was perplexed. I wrote it off as inaccurate and decided to wait until our next endo appointment and use the second test in the box to compare. In the meantime I saw two other bloggers use the home kit and they each seemed to think that the test was accurate enough.
Our next endo appointment rolled around. I have been struggling with Q’s A1c’s (both literally and emotionally) because they are higher than I would like them to be and we made some changes in the past couple of months that we really thought would bring it down. In fact her A1c dropped 0.5, a much appreciated improvement.
We still have a little way to go, but we made a couple more changes to I:C ratios and correction factors that I think will help. We also talked about doing the iPro again. (Unfortunately this clinic requires three separate visits: putting it on, taking it off, and discussing results with the doctor in person. It’s 90 minutes each way for us.)
Armed with an A1c taken in the endo’s office (finger prick, not blood draw), I pulled out the home A1c test to check it’s accuracy.
It was 1.8 HIGHER than the result at the endo.
FAIL.
I followed the instructions each time. We both washed hands each time. I don’t think I did anything to mess it up. (Plus if I can’t do it right, then they have no business selling them to the masses.)
Long story short, the Bayer A1cNow Selfcheck test does not get the D-Mom Seal of Approval. I won’t waste my money (or shock at seeing a super high number) ever again.
Have you tried an at home A1c test? Did you feel like it was accurate?
Further Reading
Moments of Wonderful A1c Now – Trying out the home test
Diabetes Mine Home A1C Testing vs. The Lab
Disclosure: I paid for the home A1c test with my own money. Bayer did not ask me to write about their product. Opinions are my own.
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