What is hemoglobin A1C and why should you be tested? Diabetes is when your blood glucose levels are too high. Most people who have diabetes or pre-diabetes have type 2 which has to do with insulin resistance. This type of diabetes with proper exercise and improving our diets can be improved or resolved. The tests that show this is a problem are the glucose tolerance test and the A!C. The A1C hemoglobin test measures your average blood glucose for the past two to three months using percentage values. If there are too many glucose molecules binding to your blood cells, the A1C, which under normal conditions should be less than 5.7% will be higher than normal and indicate that you are either pre-diabetic or diabetic. Interpreting the A1C is all about the numbers Normal: Lower than 5.7% Prediabetes: Equal to or between 5.7% and 6.4% Type 2 diabetes: 6.5% and higher Your doctor can help you manage the condition however, your ultimate goal for you and your doctor should be to wean off the medication by improving the A1C naturally. From my own experience, diet and exercise can improve your A1C. Fasting can be an effective way of reducing insulin resistance, the reason for metabolic syndrome behind type 2 diabetes in most cases. Check out this website for detailed info on the A1c and how to manage it. What Is A1C? By Kainat Jahangir The hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), or A1C, test measures your average blood glucose for the past two to three months using percentage values. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that glucose attaches to. Higher blood glucose, or blood sugar, can result in a higher percentage of glucose-covered hemoglobin and a higher A1C.1 Healthcare providers usually do this test to diagnose diabetes or identify prediabetes and also to monitor the blood glucose in patients with diabetes.2 Learn more about HbA1C, including what normal values are, what can cause high values, and what healthcare providers recommend for lowering the A1C values. Read more