Te mārama ki ō hua whakamātaunga HbA1c Understanding your HbA1c results
The HbA1c blood test is used to find out if you have diabetes or prediabetes. It is also used to check how well controlled your diabetes is if you have it.
What your HbA1c test measures
The HbA1c blood test measures the amount of sugar (glucose) attached to your red blood cells. The more glucose in your blood, the higher the test result will be.
A blood cell lasts for 2 to 3 months, so the HbA1c test shows the average of your blood glucose levels over this time.
Normal HbA1c
Diagnosing diabetes with the HbA1c test
If your result shows you have prediabetes, you should make changes to have a healthier lifestyle. This means eating healthy food and keeping physically active. You will have another test in 6 to 12 months to see if these changes have made a difference.
If your results shows that you have diabetes, you will need to see your healthcare provider to talk about treatment options. This usually involves:
- changing what you eat and drink
- other lifestyle changes, such as being physically active, not smoking and limiting alcohol
- taking tablets to lower your blood glucose levels
It may also mean you need to start insulin treatment.
Monitoring diabetes using HbA1c
If you have diabetes, your healthcare provider or diabetes clinic team will use your HbA1c results to check how well controlled your blood glucose has been.
They will discuss a HbA1c target range for you to aim for. For most people with diabetes, it will be between 50 and 55.
Your personal target may vary depending on:
- your age
- the type of diabetes you have
- your other health problems.
If you need advice about eating well and lifestyle or if you want to know more about diabetes, you can talk to your healthcare provider.