Know Your Numbers: A1C

The blood test A1C shows how well your diabetes treatment is working. This laboratory test measures your average blood sugar (glucose) level over the past two to three months. You should have an A1C test at least twice a year, according to the American Diabetes Association. Most people with type 2 diabetes should keep A1C levels below 7 percent. If your levels are higher, you may need to change your diabetes self-management strategy. "Elevated blood sugar over the short term doesn't hurt," says George Grunberger, MD, chairman of the Grunberger Diabetes Institute and a clinical professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. "But the higher the blood sugar, the more complications can develop."