The hemoglobin A1C test shows the average amount of sugar in your blood over the last 3 months. It's a simple lab test done by your healthcare provider and is the best test to find out if your blood sugar is under control.

If you know your hemoglobin A1C number, you will know if your blood sugar is under control. A high number is a sign that you should work with your healthcare provider to change your treatment plan or follow that plan more closely. A good test result is a sign that your treatment plan is working and your blood sugar is under control.

All people with diabetes should have a hemoglobin A1C test, typically every 3 months, but at least twice a year. Regular hemoglobin A1C testing can help you track your blood sugar levels over time to see if they stay close to your goal. If your blood sugar levels are too high or too low, work with your healthcare provider to change your treatment plan and reach your target level of control.

The hemoglobin A1C goal for most people with diabetes is less than 7%. Your healthcare provider will help you set a personal A1C target goal that works best for you. Your goal depends on many things, including your preference and how well your diabetes is under control. You almost always need a change in treatment if your hemoglobin A1C is over 8%. But if you can lower your hemoglobin A1C number by any amount, you will improve your chances of staying healthy. This is true as long as you have no great risk from your treatment.

Research shows that few people can tell their blood sugar levels simply by how they feel. Testing your blood sugar is the only way to know for sure whether you are reaching your blood sugar goals.

If you have "sugar," you have diabetes. Diabetes is a serious disease that causes the sugar in your blood to be at too high a level. This high blood sugar harms your body's blood vessels. It can cause you to go blind, suffer a heart attack, lose your feet or legs to amputations, stop your kidneys from working, and even kill you. There is no cure for diabetes, but you can do a lot to control it. You can change some of the foods you eat. You can stay at or get down to a weight that is right for you. And you can get regular physical activity. Lots of people need medicine to control their diabetes.

You can do a lot to bring down high blood sugar and get it under control. Start by asking your healthcare provider for a hemoglobin A1C test. If your hemoglobin A1C test result is too high, talk with your healthcare provider about how to lower it. To get your blood sugar under control, follow the meal plan recommended by your provider or dietitian, stick to a physical activity program, take prescribed diabetes medicines, and consult with your healthcare provider if needed.

A change in treatment is almost always needed if your hemoglobin A1C is over 8%. Common causes of high blood sugar include eating too much food or eating the wrong foods, lack of physical activity, stress, a need to change medicines, and infection or illness. If your hemoglobin A1C number is too high, work with your healthcare provider to change your treatment plan and reach the goal of less than 7%.

You should get a hemoglobin A1C test at least 2 times a year if your blood sugar is in the target range and stable. If your treatment changes or if your blood sugars have not consistently been well controlled, you should get a hemoglobin A1C test every 3 months until your blood sugar level improves.

The DCCT study showed that the lower the hemoglobin A1C number, the greater the chances that people with diabetes will slow or prevent the development of serious eye, kidney, and nerve disease. The study showed that if you can lower your hemoglobin A1C number as close as possible to the normal range, you will improve your chances of staying healthy and avoiding complications from diabetes.