What is HbA1c?
HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin) measures how much glucose has attached to haemoglobin over the previous 2–3 months, giving a reliable picture of long-term blood sugar control. At Dashvanth Healthcare Delhi, HbA1c testing requires no fasting and provides results within hours.
Why HbA1c is Better Than Single Blood Sugar Tests
- Not affected by what you ate yesterday or today
- Reflects average blood sugar over 3 months
- Better predictor of diabetes complications
- Used both for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring treatment
HbA1c Values
- Normal: Below 5.7% (<39 mmol/mol)
- Pre-diabetes: 5.7–6.4% (39–47 mmol/mol)
- Diabetes Diagnosis: 6.5% or above (≥48 mmol/mol)
HbA1c Treatment Targets
- Most adults with Type 2 diabetes: Below 7.0% (53 mmol/mol)
- Type 1 diabetes: Below 6.5–7.0%
- Elderly or with frequent hypoglycaemia: Below 8.0%
- Pregnant with diabetes: Below 6.5%
HbA1c Testing Frequency
- Well-controlled diabetes on stable treatment: every 6 months
- Recently started medication or poorly controlled: every 3 months
- Annual screening for pre-diabetes
Conditions Affecting HbA1c Accuracy
- Haemolytic anaemia (falsely low)
- Iron deficiency anaemia (falsely high)
- Haemoglobin variants (sickle cell, thalassaemia) – use fructosamine instead
HbA1c testing at Dashvanth Healthcare Delhi: 011-41670042. No fasting required.
