Comparison of Postprandial Plasma Glucoses and HbA1C Values Collected via Finger-Piercing and Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sensor Collection Methods over a 3+ Year Period Based on GH-Method: Math-Physical Medicine (No. 493)

Abstract

The author utilizes his postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) and Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C or A1C) data accumulated over a 3+ year period from 5/8/2018 to 8/13/2021 for this particular study. Since 5/8/2018, he has collected his daily glucoses via finger-piercing method (Finger) at 4 times each day and continuous glucose monitoring device (Sensor) at 96 times each day. Furthermore, he has developed two simple A1C equations based on finger daily average glucose (finger eAG) and sensor eAG to compare against his collected 14 lab-tested A1C results during the same time period. He has chosen PPG instead of the daily average glucose (eAG) for this study due to the fact that the PPG wave excursions are more violent than the FPG and daily glucose waves. In conclusion, the average sensor PPG (128 mg/dL) is 15% higher than his finger PPG (112 mg/dL). Both PPG values at 0-minutes and at 120-minutes are similar (125 mg/dL) and are 12% higher than his average finger PPG (112 mg/dL). Usually, many diabetes clinicians advise their patients to measure PPG at “2-hours” after the first bite of meals. By following this method, the patients would catch the low-end of their PPG wave excursion. On the other hand, his PPG at 60-minutes (136 mg/dL) is 22% higher than the average finger PPG (112 mg/dL) and 10% higher than the initial PPG and PPG at 60-minutes (125 mg/dL). The author developed two simple arithmetic formulas to estimate his finger-A1C (finger A1C = finger eAG / 16.7) and his sensor-A1C (sensor A1C = sensor eAG / 18.7). These two formulas are far simpler and easier to remember for diabetes patients. As a reference, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) equation is: A1C=(eAG+46.7)/28.7. The author understands the background for formulating the ADA’s A1C equation. However, as a 26-year T2D patient whose glucoses fluctuates between 50 mg/dL and 400 mg/dL over the past 11 years, his glucose excursion range should cover most other T2D patients. The conclusive finding of his two predicted average A1C values are 6.61% for both finger A1C and sensor A1C, which are comparable to the average 14 lab-tested A1C results of 6.60% over the same period.