what is a1c stand for

A1C stands for Hemoglobin A1C, also known as HbA1c or glycated hemoglobin. It is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months. The test works by measuring the percentage of your red blood cells that have sugar-coated hemoglobin. This is important because it provides a longer-term view of blood sugar control compared to daily blood sugar checks, which only show a snapshot of your levels at a single point in time.

• Normal A1C: Below 5.7%
• Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
• Diabetes: 6.5% or above

The A1C test is commonly used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, as well as to monitor how well diabetes is being managed over time.