The HbA1c Test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. When glucose builds up in the blood, it binds to a protein called hemoglobin. Testing your hemoglobin A1c level is a great way to gain insight into your body’s ability to metabolize glucose.

What is the HbA1c Test?

The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test measures the percentage of hemoglobin A proteins on red blood cells that have glucose attached. The higher your blood glucose is on average, the more glucose there is attached to the hemoglobin A1c protein. Your HbA1c level reflects your average blood glucose over the past three months. A healthy HbA1c is below 5.7%, while a level above 5.7% indicates chronic elevated glucose and warrants a discussion with your healthcare provider.

Elevated HbA1c can be reduced and managed through diet and lifestyle modifications. You can expect to see changes in your HbA1c level when you retest in three months after making significant diet and lifestyle changes.