Monitor Average Long-term Blood Sugar Level with the A1c Test

Blood sugar levels fluctuate minute to minute. You cannot test your blood sugars every minute of the day. So how can you know if your blood sugar levels are in overall control? The A1c test (formerly known as hemoglobin A1c or glycosylated hemoglobin) provides a three- to four-month average of your blood sugar level. The A1c test can let you know how you've done at controlling your diabetes over the past few months. The A1c test measures the amount of sugar that attaches to a protein in the red blood cell. Because red blood cells live for about three months, the A1c test shows your average blood sugar during that time. The greater the amount of sugar in your blood, the higher your A1c. High blood sugar can lead to the many complications of diabetes. Everyone with diabetes should have their A1c measured every three months. If your A1c is below 7% (or even better below 6.5%) you are doing a good job managing your diabetes. If your number is higher, you should work with your physician to work towards achieving a lower A1c level.

Translating A1c Level to Average Blood Sugar Level:

In Range
A1c 4%=BS 60
A1c 5%=BS 90
A1c 6%=BS 120
A1c 7%=BS 150

Above Range
A1c 8%=BS 180
A1c 9%=BS 210
A1c 10%=BS 240
A1c 11%=BS 270
A1c 12%=BS 300
A1c 13%=BS 330