HbA1c
Also written: Glycated haemoglobin
What it measures
Reflects average blood glucose over a period of several weeks rather than a single moment.
Why it is ordered
Used to see a trend rather than a snapshot, so it is less affected by the meal immediately before.
How to prepare
Usually no fasting needed. Still worth confirming with the laboratory.
Units
% (DCCT) ↔ mmol/mol (IFCC) — convert here
What to ask
- What period does this result describe
- How often should it be repeated
- Is there anything about me that makes this less reliable
This page does not include reference ranges and does not say whether your number is high or low. Reference ranges differ between laboratories and between people — read yours on your own report, with your clinician.