what does hemoglobin a1c mean in a blood test
Asked by: CuriousPatient123
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Community Answer
Answered by Dr. HealthMonitor 🩺
The Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) test is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. Here's what it means:
- What it measures: The test measures the percentage of your red blood cells that have sugar-coated hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
- Why it's important: It helps diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, and monitors how well you're managing your blood sugar if you have diabetes.
- Normal ranges:
- Normal: Below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or above
This test is different from daily blood sugar checks, as it provides a long-term view of your blood sugar control.