How is a high HbA1c level related to diabetes?

When your blood sugar is too high, the sugar will attach to your hemoglobin, which is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. High levels of hemoglobin with sugar attached to it can mean your diabetes is not well controlled.

An HbA1c test can be used to monitor how well your diabetes is controlled. Your blood sugar levels vary day by day depending on a number of factors, such as time of day, what you ate, and if you were physically active. So a single blood glucose reading only gives you a snapshot of your sugar level at that moment. Since HbA1C is the measure of your average blood sugar over a span of 2 to 3 months, it’s a better reflection of whether your diabetes is well controlled. 

To learn more about HbA1c and how to understand your results, click here.