What your number means
Find the number nearest yours. Average blood sugar is shown in mg/dL and in mmol/L, because Indian reports use both.
- Normal below 5.7%
- Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4%
- Diabetes range 6.5% or more
By the American Diabetes Association's cut-offs. The dashed line is the usual 7% target for people who already live with diabetes. Scale in %.
| Your number | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 5.4% | In the normal band. Computed from the formula, your average blood sugar is about 108 mg/dL (6.0 mmol/L). | ADA chart, same formula |
| 5.7% | The first number of the prediabetes band. Computed from the formula, average blood sugar is about 117 mg/dL (6.5 mmol/L). It is a nudge to look at your plate and your routine, and a report like this is worth showing your doctor. | ADA chart, same formula |
| 6.0% | Inside the prediabetes band, about 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) on average. It is still below the diabetes cut-off. Your doctor may repeat the test and look at your fasting sugar too. | American Diabetes Association |
| 6.5% | The diabetes cut-off, about 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) on average. A doctor usually confirms it with a second test before diagnosing. | American Diabetes Association |
| 7% | About 154 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L) on average. For most people who already live with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association's target is 7% or less. A doctor may set it higher or lower for you, depending on your age, health and risk of low sugar. | American Diabetes Association |
| 7.5% | About 169 mg/dL (9.4 mmol/L) on average. That is above the usual 7% target for people who live with diabetes, so it is worth asking your doctor what target suits you. | American Diabetes Association |
| 8% | About 183 mg/dL (10.2 mmol/L) on average, above the usual 7% target. Please take the report to your doctor and ask what target and plan suit you. | American Diabetes Association |
| 9% | About 212 mg/dL (11.8 mmol/L) on average, well above the usual 7% target. Please see your doctor soon about your treatment, and do not change any medicine on your own. | American Diabetes Association |
| 10% | About 240 mg/dL (13.4 mmol/L) on average. Sugar this high for months needs your doctor's attention soon, so do not wait for your next routine test, and do not change any medicine on your own. | American Diabetes Association |
How these numbers were worked out
Average blood sugar here is worked out with the formula the site's HbA1c calculator uses: 28.7 × HbA1c − 46.7, in mg/dL, and divided by 18 for mmol/L. For 6.0%, 6.5%, 7%, 7.5%, 8%, 9% and 10% the American Diabetes Association's own chart gives the same mg/dL figures. The 5.4% and 5.7% rows are computed from the formula, and are not on that chart.
The ranges
These are the cut-offs doctors use for adults. Your lab may print its own range beside your result, and your doctor reads the two together.
| HbA1c | Called | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below 5.7% | Normal | Your average blood sugar over the last two to three months is in the normal range. | American Diabetes Association |
| 5.7% to 6.4% | Prediabetes | Higher than normal but below the diabetes cut-off. It is a reason to look at food, movement and sleep, and to repeat the test when your doctor advises. | American Diabetes Association |
| 6.5% or more | Diabetes range | At or above the diabetes cut-off. A doctor usually confirms it with a repeat test before making a diagnosis. | American Diabetes Association |
The first call is free
Tell Puja what's going on and she will tell you honestly whether she can help.
Things to keep in mind
- HbA1c is an average over about three months, so one careful week before the test will not change it much, and one bad week will not ruin it. That is why doctors like it.
- Anaemia, kidney or liver disease and pregnancy can make the result less accurate. Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you.
- A nutritionist never changes a medicine, a dose or its timing. That is for your doctor. What Puja does is look at your plate and your routine alongside your reports.
Where to go next
- To try the numbers yourself, use the HbA1c to average blood sugar calculator.
- To see what eating around it can look like, read diabetes sample diet charts, how Puja works with diabetes.
- Other numbers people ask about: Fasting blood sugar normal range.
Read next: Prediabetes diet: what to change first.
Words from this page, explained
Sources
Every cut-off above comes from one of these, and the one that supports each number is linked beside it.
This is general information, not medical advice. Follow your doctor on any medicine, its dose and its timing.
Not sure what your HbA1c means?
Send Puja the report. She will go through it with you in plain words, and say what she would look at on your plate.
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