Understanding A1C Test | ADA (original) (raw)
Interpreting Your A1C Results
So, what do the numbers mean?
When it comes to the numbers, there's no one-size-fits-all target. A1C target levels can vary by each person's age and other factors, and your target may be different from someone else's. The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%.
A1C test results are reported as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the higher your blood glucose levels over the past two to three months. The A1C test can also be used for diagnosis, based on the following guidelines:
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- If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range.
- If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.
**Finally: A1C is also reported as ‘estimated average glucose,**’ or eAG
Another term you may come across when finding out your A1C is eAG. Your doctor might report your A1C results as eAG. eAG is similar to what you see when monitoring your blood glucose at home on your meter. However, because you are more likely to check your blood glucose in the morning and before meals, your meter readings will likely be lower than your eAG.
| A1C | eAG | |
|---|---|---|
| % | mg/dL | mmol/L |
| 6 | 126 | 7.0 |
| 6.5 | 140 | 7.8 |
| 7 | 154 | 8.6 |
| 7.5 | 169 | 9.4 |
| 8 | 183 | 10.1 |
| 8.5 | 197 | 10.9 |
| 9 | 212 | 11.8 |
| 9.5 | 226 | 12.6 |
| 10 | 240 | 13.4 |
Comparison of A1C and eAG meter readings