# A1c vs. CGM vs. Blood Glucose reading - confused!

**URL:** <https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463>\
**Category:** Type 1 & LADA\
**Tags:** cgm, a1c\
**Created:** [November 12, 2020, 10:45pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463 "2020-11-12T22:45:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![bkh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/da6949/32.png) [@bkh](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/bkh)\
**Post date:** [November 13, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463/21 "2020-11-13T19:24:42Z")

</div>

Thanks for clarifying that, Sam. I did indeed overlook half of what was clearly stated in your lab report. So to sum up, if my A1C is surprisingly high it could be anemia. But if my A1C is surprisingly low it also could be anemia. And if I’m wandering around awhile looking confused, I bet that could be anemia too (hypoxia-induced impairment of higher cognition.) Sigh. Guess I better stay away from all the anemias.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Michel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forum.fudiabetes.org/michel/32/387_2.png) [@Michel](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/Michel)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2020, 2:11am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463/22 "2020-11-15T02:11:54Z")

</div>

> [@bkh](#):
>
> anemia shows a higher A1C than the true value according to my reading of the statement in Sam’s lab report.

I think it is the other way?

> **[Shortened Lifespan of Red Blood Cells and the Effects of Erythropoietin in...](https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/114/22/1977/111031/Shortened-Lifespan-of-Red-Blood-Cells-and-the)**
>
> Abstract. Abstract 1977Poster Board I-1000Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD), mainly due to the inability of the kidneys to secrete

[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2141.1967.tb08743.x](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2141.1967.tb08743.x)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![coconut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@coconut](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/u/coconut)\
**Post date:** [April 24, 2026, 10:22am UTC](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463/23 "2026-04-24T10:22:33Z")

</div>

That is interesting. CGMs can read a bit lower because of the lag between interstitial fluid and blood, but an A1c that low with those averages does seem unusual. Might be something worth asking your doctor about, just to get a clearer picture.

[Previous page](https://forum.fudiabetes.org/t/a1c-vs-cgm-vs-blood-glucose-reading-confused/10463.md?page=1)