A HbA1c or A1c test is used by doctors and healthcare professionals to measure your average blood sugar level over the last 2-3 months. The test result is used to diagnose, monitor, and manage treatment decisions for diabetes.
HbA1c is measured as a percentage (%).
Why is HbA1c important?210
In general, a higher HbA1c indicates a higher risk of long-term diabetes complications. If you have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your doctor will check your HbA1c levels to decide on the best treatment plan for you, and help you set a target to lower your HbA1c.
What is considered a normal HbA1c range?211
Non-diabetes
A healthy HbA1c is below 5.7%
Prediabetes
HbA1c between 5.7-6.4% indicates prediabetes. This means you are at risk of developing diabetes
Diabetes
HbA1c of 6.5% or above indicates diabetes
Gestational diabetes
If you do not have diabetes, HbA1c of 5.9% in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy may mean you are at higher risk for gestational diabetes.
HbA1c on its own does not tell the full story
HbA1c does not give a full picture of your blood sugar levels. It does not account for the ups and downs of your blood sugar within a day or show patterns in your blood sugar over time. HbA1c also can't tell you whether you experience hypoglycemia. Gaining insight into what's affecting your blood sugar can help customize a diabetes management plan suited to your individual needs and routine.
Time in Range (TIR) is increasingly being used to assess blood sugar in combination with HbA1c. TIR is a measurement of how much of the day your blood sugar spends within your target range. It is measured as a percentage (%).211 The higher the TIR, the better the glucose control.
People can have similar HbA1c but different TIR210
Why is continuous glucose monitoring important to managing glucose levels?212
What is recommended Time In Range (TIR) if I have diabetes?210
Type 1 & type 2
At least 70% of the day: 3.9 - 10 mmol/L
Older or high-risk type 1 & type 2
At least 50% of the day: 3.9 - 10 mmol/L
Type 1 during pregnancy
At least 70% of the day: 3.5 - 7.8 mmol/L
TIR
FreeStyle libre can show you the Time In Target you had in the last 7/14/30/90 days.
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