What is a hemoglobin A1c level?
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Glucose can attach to hemoglobin, creating a molecule called hemoglobin A1c. This process is dependent upon the amount of sugar in the blood, so that the higher the blood sugar, the higher the percentage of hemoglobin A1c. Since red blood cells survive for approximately 120 days, the hemoglobin A1c level gives your doctor a good idea of your average blood sugar control over the previous 3 months. A normal hemoglobin A1c level varies a little depending upon which lab does the testing, but most people agree that anything over 6.5% is too high.