| Marker | Gabriel optimal | Typical lab range | Functional range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin A1c | 5 to 5.3 % | 4 to 5.6 | 4.6 to 5.3 |
| Estimated Average Glucose | 97 to 105 mg/dL | 68 to 114 | 85 to 105 |
A1C levels chart
| A1C | Category | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 5.7% | Normal | Your clinician sets when to retest, based on age and risk |
| 5.7% to 6.4% | Prediabetes | Higher risk of type 2 diabetes; usually retested every 1 to 2 years |
| 6.5% or higher | Diabetes range | Usually confirmed with a second test before a diagnosis |
Gabriel also shows an optimal range, 5.0% to 5.3%, in the range card on this page. It is a target to discuss with your clinician, not a diagnosis. An A1C below 5.0% is not "extra healthy" by default: it can reflect faster red cell turnover, such as blood loss or recovering iron deficiency, so it is worth a CBC and ferritin check.
A1C to estimated average glucose (eAG)
Your report may list eAG, which converts A1C into mg/dL, the unit on a glucose meter. It is a long-term average, so it won't match any single reading.
| A1C | eAG (mg/dL) |
|---|---|
| 6% | 126 |
| 6.5% | 140 |
| 7% | 154 |
| 7.5% | 169 |
| 8% | 183 |
| 8.5% | 197 |
| 9% | 212 |
| 9.5% | 226 |
| 10% | 240 |
A1C goals if you have diabetes
For most adults with diabetes, the ADA, CDC and NIDDK point to a goal of about 7% or lower. Keeping A1C below 7% can lower the risk of diabetes complications for many people.
Goals are personal. A higher target, such as 7% to 8%, can be safer for people with frequent low blood sugar, long-standing diabetes that is hard to control or advanced complications. Others may aim lower. Your clinician weighs the trade-offs with you.
What A1C level is dangerous?
There is no single cutoff where A1C becomes an emergency. Risk of long-term complications rises as A1C rises, so any result in the diabetes range deserves a prompt visit, and results well above your goal call for a treatment review.
The bigger short-term danger is how you feel today, not the A1C number. A1C is a three-month average, and very high blood sugar right now can need care before any lab result comes back.
Seek care promptly for strong thirst, frequent urination, blurry vision, weakness or tiredness that keeps getting worse. Get urgent care if you have ketones in your urine or feel very unwell.
When the number may be off
Severe iron deficiency can push A1C up. Recent blood loss, transfusion, hemolysis, kidney failure, liver disease and hemoglobin variants can make it unreliable. See the A1C test for details, and how to lower A1C if yours is above range.
Common questions
What is a normal A1C level?
Below 5.7% for adults. Gabriel's optimal range is 5.0% to 5.3%, a narrower target to discuss with your clinician.
Is an A1C of 5.7 bad?
5.7% is the start of the prediabetes range. It means a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, and lifestyle changes made now can lower that risk.
What A1C means diabetes?
6.5% or higher, usually confirmed by a second test. Your clinician may use a fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test to confirm.
What is the eAG for an A1C of 7?
About 154 mg/dL, according to the American Diabetes Association's conversion chart.
What A1C is too high?
Any result above your personal goal is worth discussing, and anything in the diabetes range needs a visit. Symptoms of very high blood sugar need care right away, whatever your last A1C was.
Sources
- Diabetes Testing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- The A1C Test & Diabetes National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Understanding A1C American Diabetes Association
- A1C Test for Diabetes and Prediabetes Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- High blood sugar: self-care MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It does not replace a visit with a licensed clinician. Gabriel membership is not health insurance.