The bands on this page
| Result | What it is called here |
|---|---|
| under 97 | Excellent average glucose |
| 97 to 114 | Good |
| 114 to 126 | Prediabetic range |
| over 126 | Diabetic range |
What goes in, and where each number comes from
Every input is a real test. Follow one to see its normal range, its optimal range and what moves it — the calculation is only as good as the numbers you feed it.
What it costs to actually get these numbers
| The 1 test on their own | $8.10 |
| The cheapest panel that covers them — Am I Prediabetic? (2 markers) | $17.10 |
Prices are Marek Diagnostics with the 10% code already applied, and they are what was filed when this page was built — check the cart. Ordering through these links pays a commission at no cost to you.
What could have moved the measurement, not the marker
A wrong number and a real change look identical on a report. These are the reasons a result here can be an artifact of how the blood was drawn or run, and they are worth ruling out before anything else.
HbA1c measures glucose stuck to hemoglobin over the red cell's lifespan. Hemolysis, recent blood loss, recent transfusion or erythropoietin all shorten that lifespan and give the sugar less time to attach — producing a falsely LOW HbA1c in someone whose glucose control is actually poor.
What to do: If you are anemic, have donated blood recently, or are on TRT with a high hematocrit, read HbA1c alongside fasting glucose and fructosamine.
Raises HbA1c independently of glucose — older red cells accumulate more glycation. Correcting iron deficiency lowers HbA1c with no change in diet at all.
What to do: Check ferritin before acting on a borderline HbA1c.
Sickle trait, HbC and thalassemia interfere with several HbA1c methods, in either direction depending on the assay.
What to do: Relevant if you have African, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or South Asian ancestry. Ask which method the lab uses.