HbA1c; GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN

HbA1c measures the percentage of your haemoglobin that has sugar attached to it. Because red blood cells live for about three months, this single number reflects your average blood sugar over the previous two to three months — not just the sugar of one morning.

That long view makes HbA1c the standard test both for diagnosing diabetes and for judging how well diabetes treatment is working. Commonly used cut-offs are: below 5.7% is normal, 5.7–6.4% indicates prediabetes, and 6.5% or above indicates diabetes. Your report carries the laboratory's reference range, and your doctor confirms any diagnosis.

When do doctors advise this test?

• Diabetes screening — especially with family history, weight gain or symptoms like excess thirst and urination
• Monitoring known diabetes, typically every 3–6 months, to judge treatment control
• Prediabetes follow-up, to see whether lifestyle changes are working
• As part of preventive health packages and pre-surgery workups

Preparation & the sample

No fasting is needed — HbA1c can be done at any time of day, which is one of its biggest conveniences. One caution: conditions that change red-cell lifespan (recent transfusion, significant anaemia, some haemoglobin variants) can distort the result; mention these when booking, and your doctor may rely on fasting sugar or other tests alongside.

This information is educational and general. Your doctor's advice for your specific situation always comes first.