About Hemoglobin A1c, Part 1

While blood glucose testing tells you what your glucose level is at the time you test, HbA1c tells you your glucose average over a 2-3 month period. HbA1c testing tells you how well your overall diabetes treatment plan is working

Your daily diabetes treatment plan should include healthy eating, physical activity, taking any prescribed medications, and blood glucose monitoring.

If you know your HbA1c percentage, you will know if your blood sugar is under control. A high number, above 8%, is a sign that you should work with your health care provider to change your treatment plan. A good test result, 7% or lower, is a sign that your treatment plan is working and your blood sugar is under control.

Both the DCCT and UKPDS studies showed that the lower the HbA1c number, the greater the chances that people with diabetes will slow or prevent the development of serious eye, kidney and nerve disease. The studies also showed that if people with diabetes can lower their HbA1c number by any amount, they will improve their chances of staying healthy.

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