The HbA1c test is presently a preferred test of doctors to check whether diabetes is under control. As it gives glycemic status of last three months. This is important as blood glucose levels fluctuate from minute to minute, hour to hour, and day to day.

Please enter your A1C% or eAG (estimated average glucose in mg/dl)

Your A1C %:

Your eAG (in mg/dl):

Some important points to remember about HbA1c:

• People without diabetes have HbA1C between 4 to 5.6
• People with HbA1c levels between 5.7 to 6.4 are said to have 'pre-diabetes' or at risk of diabetes
• Adults with diabetes need to maintain their HbA1c levels between 6 to 7 for leading a healthy and normal life. Having lower HbA1c levels at 7 or less has been shown to reduce a number of diabetes related complications as per recommendations of ADA
• ISPAD recommends for having HbA1c of less than 7.5 for all children.

Estimated Average Glucose (eAG) number is calculated from the result of your A1c test. Like the A1c, the eAG shows what your average blood sugars have been over the previous 2 to 3 months. Instead of a percentage, the eAG is in the same units (mg/dl) as your blood glucose meter. HbA1c should be performed approximately every 3-4 months to determine whether a person with diabetes has achieved good glucose control or maintained it.

The relationship between HbA1c and eAG is described by the formula* 28.7 X A1C – 46.7 = eAG

Limitations of the HbA1c test.

• HbA1c does not provide a measure of variability of blood glucose levels or hypoglycaemia. For patients prone to glycaemic variability (especially type 1 patients, or type 2 patients with severe insulin deficiency), good blood glucose control is best judged by the combination of results of self-monitoring and the HbA1c.
• Conditions that can cause haemolysis or blood loss can result in variation of results.

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) and Postprandial Plasma Glucose (PPG) levels are effective tests to monitor short-term treatment changes to determine the health of a person with diabetes. On the other hand, HbA1c test provides information that FPG and PPG cannot, since it represents long-term program compliance. For living well with diabetes, a person needs to undergo a combination of these tests.

* http://professional.diabetes.org/diapro/glucose_calc