Hemoglobin A1C
Hemoglobin A1C (pronounced a-one-c) is also known as HbA1C or just A1C. On this web site we refer to it as A1C.
A1C is a test that provides information about your average blood sugar level over a period of approximately 2-3 months. To obtain this information, your physician takes a sample of your blood and sends it to a laboratory for testing. It is recommended to have your A1C checked twice a year.
A1C is represented as a percent. The higher the percent, the more sugar that has been in the blood over time.
The American Diabetes Association recommends that people with diabetes have an A1C of 7 percent or less.
Although A1C is a measure of long-term blood glucose control, it still reflects your average daily blood glucose levels. To help you see this relationship, you can use the chart below:
A1C |
Average Blood Glucose Level |
6% |
135 mg/dL |
7% |
170 mg/dL |
8% |
205 mg/dL |
9% |
240 mg/dL |
10% |
275 mg/dL |
11% |
310 mg/dL |
12% |
345 mg/dL |
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