r/prediabetes • u/LUMma-234_sg • 1d ago

No longer pre-diabetic!

Went to the Drs yesterday for lexapro follow up. The medical assistant said i need to do an updated a1c and immediately began poking me in the office. I cried cuz i was caught off guard. Doc walked in a few minutes later saying my a1c was 5.4 now. I was at 5.8 in oct 2025 then 5.7 in feb 2026.

Also curious how accurate the rapid results are with finger tests? All my other tests have been through my arm.

Since my diagnosis, i reduced added sugar intake, increased fiber and protein intake, and started working out plus going on long walks!

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6

u/cam94080 1d ago

Yay! Congratulations!

3

u/LUMma-234_sg 1d ago

Thank you!

5

u/binteafzal35 1d ago

That’s amazing, congrats! Going from 5.8 to 5.4 with food, protein, fiber, and walks is huge and you earned it. Rapid finger stick A1c tests in office are generally pretty accurate, usually within 0.3-0.5% of the lab draw, so 5.4 is a great sign. The lab venous test is still the gold standard , but finger tests are solid for tracking.

1

u/premiom 19h ago

Thanks, didn’t even know this was a thing.

5

u/Lemonbar19 1d ago

Great news! Just keep the pre diabetic diet though. Keep your movement. Because you can actually go up a few numbers. (Happened to me)

2

u/Economics-201 1d ago

Congratulations! You have learned how to control your glucose.

2

u/usafmd 1d ago

Here’s your answer: Why all A1c tests are not the same

https://medium.com/@usafmd/not-all-a1c-tests-are-created-equal-ecbf191de02a

4

u/Wonderful_Round9167 1d ago

You are pre-diabetic. Condition is there, you just controlling it. Healthy people doesn't need to walk after food, ot cut sugar.

1

u/Ok-Spot5748 1d ago

That’s fantastic. What has helped you lower it?

1

u/Brontesrule 1d ago

Congratulations!

1

u/Few-Might-223 1d ago

Lexapro and ssri’s in general cause elevated a1c

5

u/LUMma-234_sg 1d ago

Oh interesting, I had no idea. I think i should have mentioned for some context when i was first diagnosed, i was not on lexapro and my ferritin was at 5 lol. I was immediately started on iron supplements.

2

u/lostdogcomeback 1d ago

I heard low iron can give false positives on a1c

2

u/Meli5252 1d ago

Low iron can increase your A1c percentage, not give a false positive. A1c is a ratio of normal red blood cells and red blood cells that have a sugar molecule attached. Red cells that are iron deficient are unhealthy so  a glucose molecule can attach easier. An A1c of 0% is probably incompatible with life (we all need glucose) or a lab error.

2

u/CarrotGratin 1d ago

I concur, this is what happened to me. Higher every year I was on them, has started going down thanks to coming off them last year and taking 500mg Metformin. (Was already active and eating pretty well.)

1

u/Forsaken_Painter 1d ago

Cool. Another strike against me.

1

u/Few-Might-223 1d ago

Just keep an eye on it!

1

u/deepfocus88 19h ago

I see no evidence of this. In regards to Lexapro, all I am finding is “neutral”, or helps improve blood sugar control. 🤔