HbA1c is a measure of what his average glucose levels have been over the past 2-3 months. It’s looking at red blood cells (which have a 2-3 month lifespan) and calculating how much glucose they have been transporting round the body. It’s a good way to look at the glucose trend. The finger prick testing gives you a snapshot of what’s happening at a specific moment, so good to help spot what might push up (or drop down) levels.
There’s something called the dawn phenomenon which can happen in people with type 2 diabetes or pre diabetes which sees at night the normal hormone regulation go a bit haywire and increase production of glucose from the liver (perfectly normal, sets us up to wake up and get working) more than necessary, while also inhibiting insulin so it doesn’t use the glucose so effectively. Happens in the early hours, hence a higher waking reading.
There is some speculation that covid 19 may possibly be causing people (including those who don’t necessarily fit in the usual risk factors) to develop diabetes. It’s difficult to say, as it might just be that covid patients are being more thoroughly tested and so are being found by chance and were simply previously undiagnosed, or actually newly diabetic. Only time will tell.
Infection and illness can increase glucose levels as the body fights it off. Also, did your husband receive any steroid therapy while ill, as some people will develop steroid induced diabetes which will resolve after the steroids stop, but would potentially have affected the HbA1c level.
This chart (if I can actually get it to post) shows the average finger prick glucose according to HbA1c level (ignore the HbA1c in %, that’s just how it used to be reported). Of course, the likelihood is that in reality it’s not always that, but bouncing around above and below, though would tie in with the readings you have posted here.