Have you ever been told what your A1C value is and wondered, “what the heck does that mean”? You're not alone!
The A1C is a blood test ordered by your healthcare provider that measures the average blood sugar level over the previous 2 - 3 months. It shows the percentage of hemoglobin in red blood cells that have glucose attached.
With the life of a red blood cell being approximately 3 - 4 months, the A1C gives a broader picture of how well blood sugar is being managed over time, opposed to an individual or even daily glucose reading.
Why is A1C A Critical Metric in Diabetes?
It is very important and effective in managing diabetes to have and understand an A1C conversion chart.
This is because the A1C captures an approximate 3 month average blood glucose value and is presented as a percentage, but the glucose value it converts to is measured in milligrams per deciliter (md/dL). This is the typical metric used that most people are more familiar with.
To convert an A1C to an estimated average glucose (eAG), you can use the following formula: eAG = 28.7 X A1C - 46.7. Or simply have an A1C conversion chart handy.
An A1C conversion chart would be useful for people living with diabetes, caregivers of those living with diabetes, and healthcare professionals who order and or discuss lab values with patients.
Knowing your A1C and understanding how it converts to your average blood sugar level is important for you and your healthcare team as it provides an assessment of your current management plan.
It can help you know if things need to be adjusted and is also a good indicator of your risk for diabetes complications.
A1C Conversion Chart: What It Means for You
With the A1C providing a long-term picture (over several months) of your average blood sugar value, it is helpful for both you and your healthcare provider to assess your overall “average” management and make more informed decisions.
Understanding the A1C value and how it converts to your average blood sugar levels can help you relate to your every day glucose monitoring numbers, which you are likely more familiar with.
See the A1C conversion chart below to learn what your A1C means when converted to an estimated average glucose.
A1C Conversion Chart
A1C (%) | Estimated Average Glucose (mg/dL) |
5.0% | 97 mg/dL |
6.0% | 126 mg/dL |
7.0% | 154 mg/dL |
8.0% | 183 mg/dL |
9.0% | 212 mg/dL |
10.0% | 240 mg/dL |
How to Interpret Your A1C Conversion Chart Results
Different A1C levels mean different things in regard to diabetes management.
For example, if a person comes in after being recently hospitalized with hyperglycemia, and their A1C is 14%, we know they have been elevated for a few months and need to start on a diabetes management regimen right away to lower this.
A person who has had diabetes for some time and has managed to keep their A1C under 7% for years, but now has an A1C of greater than 8%, we know has something else going on with them that we need to further investigate.
Things we would consider are, management regimen compliance, recent illness or injury, increased insulin resistance, etc.
Both examples above give us a good indication that action needs to be taken and further investigation into the daily glucose values and lifestyle of these two individuals.
There are different target A1C levels for different groups of people, for example, non-diabetic, diabetic, and prediabetic. See the A1C conversion chart below for target ranges for the various groups:
Some individual A1C targets may vary based on age, risk factors, and health status.
For example, our diabetics in their 80’s or 90’s, we generally target a slightly higher A1C as they are now at risk for falling and if we have tight control of blood sugar, this may induce hypoglycemia and in turn a fall.
Also, we are less focused on minimizing “long term” complications and more focused on the potential for the short term complications because of other risk factors such as gait instability.
Factors Affecting A1C Levels
There are several factors that affect the A1C levels, but simply stated, the things that impact your glucose levels, are the things that affect your A1C levels.
Do you ever notice that when you go to a party and allow yourself to indulge in pizza, ice cream, and or cake, your blood sugar levels are elevated later and sometimes even into the next day?
Similarly, if this were to become a regular occurrence with your dietary intake, more than just a day of indulging, your A1C would reflect this and be elevated.
Having a consistent exercise and activity routine, on the other hand, would help with decreasing daily blood sugar values and if done consistently, over time, will also decrease your A1C.
Medication is another factor that will help overall A1C levels if you are adhering to the regimen recommended by your doctor. If you often skip your medication though, this will be reflected in a higher A1C.
In addition to the above mentioned, stress, illness, sleep issues, and hormonal changes also have an impact on A1C levels.
It is important to manage stress, know how to manage sick days, ensure a good sleep routine, and work with your doctor if hormonal changes are impacting your A1C.
How to Lower A1C Naturally
Lowering A1C naturally requires a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. By creating a plan and implementing these strategies, you will see improvements in your A1C and can track this using an A1C conversion chart.
Eating a well balanced diet, prioritizing whole unprocessed foods, and incorporating healthy fats, fiber, and lean protein can contribute to a lower A1C over time.
Having a consistent exercise routine that you stick to will also improve your A1C over time. Find something you enjoy and can easily incorporate into your daily routine.
The ADA recommends simply taking 30 min daily, for at least 5 days of the week, to go on a brisk walk.
Pro tip: you will increase the benefits of this walk if you are able to schedule it following your largest meal of the day.
Other lifestyle changes include getting enough sleep at night and managing your stress levels. Cortisol is released in response to stress and does cause your glucose levels to rise.
Having good sleep hygiene and managing your stress through intentional self-care are impactful ways to help manage your A1C levels and reach, and stay, in target range.
Taking Charge of Your A1C Using the A1C Conversion Chart
Having an A1C conversion chart and understanding what is impacting your A1C and blood sugar levels is invaluable in effectively managing your diabetes.
It is important to track your A1C so that you and your doctor can make informed decisions that will help prevent potential complications of diabetes.
If you do not know what your A1C is, speak with your doctor and ask them to send an order to have it done. Most diabetics have it tested every 3 - 6 months.
If you need help putting a plan in place to understand your A1C and take action to make lifestyle changes to bring it to target, don't wait! Schedule a call and speak directly with me!
Meet the Author
 Hi! I’m Beth, a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator. I provide diabetes coaching for newly diagnosed people with diabetes and also work with people who have been living with diabetes for some time. With 1:1 coaching, you will feel empowered and supported to confidently manage your diabetes effectively - without it controlling your life! I can help you make sure that you feel good, stay in optimal health and take care of your well-being at all times. First call is on me! Let’s talk. |
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