What it means
Glucose in the blood sticks to hemoglobinHEE-muh-gloh-binThe iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and the blood test that measures it.hem/o bloodglobin proteinFull entry in red blood cells, which live about 3 months. The A1C is the percent of hemoglobin with glucose attached, so it reflects average blood sugar over that time. It is used to diagnose diabetes mellitusdy-uh-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tusA long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.Full entry and to check how well it is controlled. No fasting is needed. Conditions that change red cell life, such as anemia or recent blood loss, can make it less accurate.
For the nurse
It is usually checked every 3 to 6 months. A common goal for many adults with diabetes is below 7%, set with the provider. Use it with daily glucose readings to teach how food, activity and drugs affect blood sugar.
At a glance
| Normal range | Below 5.7% [below 39 mmol/mol]; 5.7–6.4% [39–46 mmol/mol] is prediabetes; 6.5% [48 mmol/mol] or higher is in the diabetes range. |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | A1C, HbA1c |
| Spanish | hemoglobina glucosilada |
| Also written | A1C, HbA1c, HgbA1c, glycated hemoglobin, glycosylated hemoglobin |
Related terms
diabetes mellitus
A long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
hemoglobin
The iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, and the blood test that measures it.
hyperglycemia
A blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.
blood glucose
The amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood at the time it is measured.