A normal blood HbA1c level

A normal blood haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level

A normal HbA1c level is below 42 mmol/mol.

What is haemoglobin HbA1c?

Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a blood test that measures your average blood glucose (sugar) level over the past two to three months.

It is used a way of diagnosing diabetes and monitoring its control.

What is the normal range for haemoglobin A1c?

Normal HbA1c = 20-42 mmol/mol (or 4-6%).

HbA1c in prediabetes and diabetes

• Prediabetes is diagnosed if your HbA1c = 42-47 mmol/L (6-6.5%)
• Diabetes is diagnosed if your HbA1c = 48 mmol/mol or over (>6.5%).

HbA1C mmol/mol and %

Confusingly HbA1c comes in 2 different units (% is the older unit). These are the equivalent values.

42 mmol/mol = 6.0% = prediabetes
48 = 6.5 = diabetes
53 = 7
59 = 7.5
64 = 8
75 = 9.

Diabetes UK has a converter to convert HbA1c from mmol/mol to %, and vice versa.

Monitoring of DM in adults (target HbA1c)

If you have diabetes, an ideal HbA1c level is 48mmol/mol (6.5%) or below.

Summary

We have explained what is a normal blood HbA1c level (under 42 mmol/mol); and how the diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes is made. We hope it has been helpful.