A1C Calculator

If you are living with diabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, your doctor can employ various methods to monitor your condition. One of those tests is called the A1C blood test, which is used to both diagnose and manage diabetes. (Health experts also recommend all adults over 45 have an A1C test as a baseline.) So, what exactly is A1C, also called hemoglobin A1C, and why does it matter?

Unlike a simple blood glucose test—the kind that someone with diabetes can do themself with a finger prick and pocket-size monitor to check their glucose level at any specific moment—the A1C test examines those glucose levels over the past few months. The higher the glucose level in your bloodstream, the more glucose will bind to the hemoglobin within your red blood cells. The A1C test measures what percentage of those red blood cells are coated with glucose (these coated cells are referred to as glycosylated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1C), giving a big picture of your condition by revealing your estimated average glucose levels. You can enter your latest A1C test results into the calculator below to see your estimated average glucose levels now—or vice versa.

Here’s a look at what A1C levels mean: An A1C value below 5.7% is normal; between 5.7% and 6.4% indicates an individual has prediabetes; and 6.5% or higher indicates they have diabetes. Within the prediabetes range, the higher the A1C percentage, the greater the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Your doctor will discuss your results with you and take them into consideration in any treatment plan. If they determine you have prediabetes, you may be asked to make certain lifestyle changes as part of your treatment, including adjusting your diet and exercise to help possibly reverse your condition. If you have diabetes, your doctor will look to your A1C test results to help monitor your condition and consider them in making any necessary treatment adjustments. According to government health experts, research has found that some people with diabetes can reduce their risk of complications by maintaining A1C levels below 7%. Your doctor will determine what A1C targets are right for you based on your age and other factors.

Always be sure to review your A1C test results with your doctor and follow their recommendations.