Many people would like to know what are the normal A1C blood sugar levels. Diabetic patients, who are supposed to know about these, struggle to understand them as well. One of the reasons for this is that there are so many ways to find out a person’s blood sugar level. Some give highly accurate results, enabling physicians to diagnose pre-diabetes or diabetes. Others are more suitable for those who have already been diagnosed and simply use the readings to manage their condition. Let’s take a look at the tests used to determine normal A1C blood sugar levels.

The Fasting Blood Sugar Method:

This test measures your blood sugar level after you have fasted for eight hours. The normal readings would be less than 100mg/dl of glucose in the blood. Those with levels of 100mg/dl and 125mg/dl are classed as being pre-diabetic. Anyone with a reading of 126mg/dl or above is a diabetic. However, if a diagnosis has to be made, it is likely that your physician will ask you to repeat the test again, on a different day. If blood glucose levels are still 126mg/dl or above, then it is likely that you do have diabetes.

In some cases, blood sugar levels are 200mg/dl or even higher. These people usually also have other diabetic symptoms. These include blurred vision, weight loss, frequent urination, and increased hunger or thirst. If the initial reading indicates 200 or higher and those symptoms are present, a second test is usually not required.

Random Blood Glucose Test:

With a random test, you can test levels at any point during the day. Even after eating, it should never exceed 200mg/dl. If, during a random test, you measure between 140mg/dl and 200mg/dl, you need to seek medical attention because you are pre-diabetic.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test:

In this test, your response to sugar is measured. The fasting glucose is measured first, after which you will be administered a glucose solution. After one hour, and again an hour later, blood glucose levels are measured. Normal A1C blood sugar levels on an oral test are below 140mg/dl. Anything between 140mg/dl and 199mg/dl would point towards pre-diabetes. If the reading is 200mg/dl or above at the two hour point, then you are likely to receive a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus or type 2 diabetes.

The Glycated Hemoglobin Test:

The last way to get results, which is also the most accurate, is the A1C test itself. This test is not designed for diagnostics, however, but rather to determine whether you have been able to manage your diabetes over the past quarter. Normal A1C blood sugar levels are 7% or below. If it is higher, then you may need a different type of diabetes treatment.

One key thing to remember is that blood glucose measurements do not tell the difference between the different forms of diabetes (type 1 and type 2). Hence, a physician will have to conduct other tests in order to determine the type, and which form of treatment will be most appropriate to your particular needs.