Indicator Explainer
HbA1c
Glycated hemoglobin — an integrated measure of average blood glucose over roughly the preceding two to three months.
This page explains what the indicator is and how results are interpreted in general terms. Reference ranges depend on the laboratory, the method, and your own situation — no single “normal value” applies to everyone. This page is health information, not a diagnosis. For symptoms, treatment, or urgent concerns, contact a healthcare professional.
When it is tested
Measured in diabetes diagnosis pathways, routine diabetes monitoring (commonly every three to six months), and pre-operative or pregnancy assessments where long-term glycaemia matters.
Reading results
HbA1c reflects red-cell exposure to glucose, so anything changing red-cell lifespan — haemoglobinopathies, anaemia, recent transfusion, pregnancy, dialysis — distorts it. Reporting is standardised within countries but differs between them, and results must be read against the reporting laboratory’s reference system. It describes an average: it hides within-day excursions, which continuous monitoring captures.
Questions to ask a professional
- Is any condition present that affects red-cell turnover?
- Which standardisation (e.g., NGSP/IFCC) and units does the report use?
- How does this average align with any glucose self-monitoring data?