Knowing your A1C

What is A1C?

The A1C test is important because it can show a fuller picture of your blood glucose levels. It gives your health care team information that spans up to 3 months, so it’s a good measure of your average blood sugar levels over time. 

When you get your A1C result back from the lab, it will be shown as a percentage. You may see a blood sugar reading next to it. That’s the “estimated Average Glucose” (eAG). An eAG presents your A1C level in numbers similar to how you’d see it on a blood glucose meter. This test can help you get a better understanding of how your daily blood sugar readings relate to your long-term diabetes control. If your A1C is at 6.5% or higher, that means you have diabetes. 

A1C results let you and your health care provider stay on top of your progress and make any changes that may be necessary. If you want to learn more about A1C and blood glucose, click here. 

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) give real-time updates on your blood glucose levels through a device that’s attached to your body. The continuous monitoring allows you to see your TIR. This is the time spent in the target blood glucose range (which is between 70 and 180 mg/dL for most people).

While A1C checks your blood glucose levels for the past 3 months, CGMs give you a picture of how your levels change on a more consistent basis. Learn more about CGMs here.

When you stay on top of your glucose levels, you’re taking care of your overall health, too. That’s because uncontrolled diabetes can cause serious health complications such as heart disease, stroke, vision problems, kidney disease, nerve damage, infections, and dental issues. Here is some good information about taking action to reduce the risk of long-term problems. 

Remember, diabetes changes over time, so it’s important to monitor your diabetes to stay on top of it. If you’d like to learn more about how your body changes as diabetes progresses, be sure to watch this video.