What Is a Normal A1c for Type 2 Children?

According to the ADA and AACE, a normal A1c result is from 4-6%. Yet we know the closer you get to 6% means your average blood glucose is getting higher and increases your risk for pre-diabetes and diabetes.

We should be more aggressive especially with children who are at risk for diabetes; if not they may not live as long as their parents. 

So a study was done with 400 healthy, non-diabetic children to measure their A1c result.  

The object was to establish the normal distribution for glycohemoglobin (A1c) in sixth and seventh grade children and to assess the practicality of a school-based fingerstick screening program. 

Fingerstick capillary whole blood was collected from 400 children aged 11 to 13 years and the percent A1c was determined on-site.  

The results showed that, among the boys, the A1c was significantly higher among the minorities (4.88±0.37%, mean±S.D.) than among the non-hispanic whites (4.73±0.41%, P<0.01), but was similar in the two groups of girls (4.74±0.41 and 4.75±0.34, respectively, P=0.88).  

None of the students had abnormal glucose tolerance by the standards published for adults.  

From the results it was concluded that s: A1c in boys was higher among minorities than among the non-hispanic whites, even at this young age of 11–13 years. This may be an early sign of predisposition to Type 2 diabetes among the groups known to be at higher risk for Type 2 diabetes. However, this difference was not seen among girls. Reasons for the discrepancy between boys and girls is unexplained. A school-based fingerstick screening program proved to be practical. As the risk of obesity-related diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus, increases among youth, the classroom may become an important location for screening.

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Volume 65, Issue 1, July 2004, Pages 45-49

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FACT: PREVALENCE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES IN TYPE 2 DIABETES  In a recent longitudinal study, Dr. Fisher and his colleagues have learned that younger adults, those of the female gender, and individuals experiencing complications were at greater risk of experiencing depressive affect and diabetes-related distress over time.  In addition, individuals experiencing these disorders over time exhibited behaviors that impacted their hemoglobin A1c levels. Dr. Fisher and his team strongly encourage clinicians to conduct frequent mental health and diabetes-related distress screening with their patients, especially for younger adults, women and those experiencing diabetes complications.  [ journal article ]   [ Dr. Fisher ]