what does hemoglobin tell you

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. It also plays a key role in diagnosing and monitoring diabetes and prediabetes through the A1C test. Here's what hemoglobin can tell you:

• Blood Sugar Levels: The A1C test measures the percentage of hemoglobin coated with sugar (glycated hemoglobin). This reflects your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.
• Diabetes Diagnosis:
  • Normal: Below 5.7%
  • Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
  • Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
• Management of Diabetes: For people with diabetes, the A1C test helps monitor how well blood sugar is being controlled. The goal for most adults is an A1C below 7%.

Hemoglobin levels can also indicate other health conditions, such as anemia or kidney disease, so it's important to discuss your results with a healthcare provider.