HbA1c stands for glycated hemoglobin. It is a blood test that measures the average amount of glucose in your blood over the past two to three months 12. The test is used to diagnose and monitor diabetes, and it is also used to assess the effectiveness of diabetes treatment .
The HbA1c test measures the amount of glucose that has attached to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells . Hemoglobin is a protein in your blood that carries oxygen to your body’s organs and tissues. The higher your blood glucose levels, the more glucose will attach to your hemoglobin .
The normal range for HbA1c is below 6%. If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below . If you’re at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, your target HbA1c level should be below 42mmol/mol (6%)