A1C

A1C is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It measures how much sugar is attached to your red blood cells, which live about three months. A higher A1C indicates higher average blood sugar, which can increase the risk of diabetes-related complications. It's a useful tool for diagnosing diabetes and monitoring how well your blood sugar is controlled over time. Generally, an A1C below 5.7% is considered normal, while higher levels suggest prediabetes or diabetes.