What Is an A1c?
The A1c is one of the most useful tests we have for blood sugar. Unlike a finger-stick that shows your sugar right now, the A1c reflects your average over roughly the last three months. That is because it measures how much sugar has attached to the hemoglobin in your red blood cells, and those cells live about three months.
What the Numbers Mean
What Should My Goal Be?
For many adults with diabetes, a common goal is an A1c under 7%. But this is not one-size-fits-all. A younger, healthier person might aim lower, while an older person or someone with other health issues might have a safer goal closer to 7.5 or 8% to avoid dangerous low blood sugars. We set your target together based on your overall health.
A Few Things That Can Affect the Result
The A1c is reliable for most people, but certain conditions can make it read falsely high or low, including some types of anemia, recent blood loss, kidney disease, and certain hemoglobin variations that are more common in people of African, Mediterranean, and South Asian descent. If your A1c and your home readings do not seem to match, tell us, because we can investigate.
How to Improve It
Because the A1c is an average over months, it responds to steady habits, not last-minute changes. The same steps that help daily blood sugar will lower your A1c over time: balanced meals, regular movement, weight management, good sleep, and taking medications as prescribed.
When to talk with us
If your A1c is rising, if it is not at your goal, or if you are unsure what your number means for you, let us know. We can adjust your plan well before small problems become big ones.
Have questions about this?
Bring this guide to your next visit. We are always glad to talk through what it means for your specific situation and care plan.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vineeth Lekkala, MD. Last reviewed Jun 14, 2026.