Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c or A1c) provides a trend of how high your blood sugar levels have been over a period of time. The test measures the amount of blood sugar (glucose) attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells. HbA1c is used as an indicator of diabetes control, as well as one of the tests to diagnose diabetes.

HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose levels over a period of two to three months.

According to the ADA1, below are the criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes:

% HbA1c
Up to 5.7% Normal
Between 5.7% to 6.4% Prediabetes
6.5% and above Diabetes

Some things you should know about the HbA1c test:
The HbA1c test takes into account both your fasting and post-meal values, but it doesn’t capture glucose variability during the day, and the risks related to the extremes of hypo (<70 mg/dL / 3.9 mmol/L) and hyperglycemia (>180mg/dL / 10.0 mmol/L).2 This means that identical levels of HbA1c can show different glucose variabilities. Glucose variability has an impact on both complications of your condition and your quality of life.

Glucose monitoring with your Dario is extremely important. Set the in-range target levels together with your healthcare provider according to your needs and condition and record it in the Dario App. Studies and research have determined that maintaining glucose levels in range is the most significant value for balancing and preventing diabetes complications3.

Blood glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day. Self-monitoring with Dario will immediately provide feedback on blood glucose fluctuations that may be caused by modifications in physical activity levels, nutrition and medications.

Knowing your glucose values throughout the day will provide you with information on out-of-range glucose values and the percentage of time you are in this state. You will be able to detect the peaks in your glucose levels such as very high post-meal readings, or low readings after high glucose repair or exercise. These readings are defined as readings outside your target range.

One of your goals in managing diabetes is to prevent high or low glucose levels that are known as hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic. Many factors may affect the glucose out of range ratio such as: medication, nutrition, physical activity, illness and more.

These are some of the things you should discuss with your healthcare provider when deciding your target in-range values

  • How long you have had your diabetes
  • Other conditions you may have
  • Cardiovascular disease or diabetes complications
  • Hyperglycemia unawareness

Try to keep your measurements in the target ranges! Keep looking at the % in-range in the Dario App. Good Luck!

  1. American Diabetes Association Standard of Care – 2019.
  2. “Glucose Variability: Timing, Risk Analysis, and Relationship to Hypoglycemia in Diabetes” Boris Kovatchev et al. Diabetes Care 2016;39:502–510
  3. “International Consensus on Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring”. Thomas Danne et at. Diabetes Care, 2017;40:1631–1640

Units of measurement, which are shown in some of the photos and videos, represent US standard units

DAR-0128 RevB