What is HbA1c?

HbA1c on your report

Usually reported as a percentage. Per MedlinePlus:

• below 5.7% is normal
• 5.7% to 6.4% suggests prediabetes
• 6.5% or higher suggests diabetes

Doctors often confirm with a second test, and your lab's printed range may differ slightly.

Want the numbers? HbA1c normal range, and what 5.7, 6.5 and 7 mean.

What HbA1c tells your doctor

A single sugar reading can jump around with one meal or one bad night, but HbA1c gives the bigger picture.

Doctors use it to:

• diagnose prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• see whether your routine is working over time

In PCOS, it is a simple way to keep an eye on rising sugar before it turns into diabetes.

What moves your HbA1c

Because it reflects months, not days, steady habits move it more than any one meal.

These all help bring it down slowly:

• filling half your thali with vegetables
• choosing whole grains and dal over refined maida
• keeping sweets and sugary chai occasional
• walking after meals
• sleeping well

Anaemia, kidney or liver disease and pregnancy can make the result less accurate, so tell your doctor about these and about any medicines you take.