Understanding HbA1c: a short visual guide
Patient education · 30-second visual guide
A 30-second visual guide to reading an HbA1c result alongside glucose records and your personal care plan.
Silent video with on-screen text. Pause whenever you need more time to read.
Understanding an HbA1c result
HbA1c gives an overview of average blood glucose over about three months. It cannot describe every daily fluctuation. Review it alongside glucose readings, symptoms and your treatment plan. If the result and your readings do not seem to match, discuss this with your clinician. Anemia, blood loss, transfusion and some hemoglobin conditions may affect interpretation. Your personal target and next step should be agreed with your care team, not copied from someone else’s result.
A reassuring HbA1c does not rule out an urgent problem. Follow your personal low/high-glucose plan and seek urgent care if seriously unwell.
General patient education; individual advice matters.
Further reading: NIDDK: The A1C test and diabetes.