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What is A1C and Why It Matters for Diabetes Management

What is A1C ?

A1C (Hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c) test results are reported as a percentage. A higher percentage indicates higher blood glucose levels in the past 2 to 3 months.

The A1C blood test is used to diagnose diabetes, plan your diabetes treatment, and monitor how well your treatment is working over time. (source)
A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes. (source)
OBM Rapid A1C device FAQ chart showing clinical ranges for normal, prediabetes, and diabetes diagnosis.

The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications.

The ADA recommends that the goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C level of less than 7%. However, there’s no one-size-fits-all target. The individual goal will depend on many things, such as your age and other medical conditions. Consult your doctor to set your own individual A1C goal. (source,source)

Unlike the glucose test, the A1C test does not require fasting before having blood drawn.

The OBM rapid A1c test allows a 5-minute A1C test at home using a fingerstick blood sample, offering laboratory-level accuracy.

Learn More
Healthcare provider FAQ graph illustrating the relative risk of microvascular complications based on HbA1C levels.

Blogs

Read our most recent insights for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals.

View all blogs
Do you need to fast for an A1C test? A woman reviews her lab order over breakfast
Do You Need to Fast for an A1C Test?
You do not need to fast for an A1C test itself. If A1C is the only test on your order, you can eat before your appointment. But “blood work” may
Orange Biomed team showcasing its A1C testing technology at the ADCES 2026 exhibition booth
ADCES 2026 Recap: What Diabetes Care and Education Specialists Are Prioritizing Now
What did ADCES 2026 reveal about the future of diabetes care? Explore key insights on AI, GLP-1 therapies, A1C monitoring, and digital engagement from this year’s conference.
Healthcare provider reviewing a diabetes monitoring plan with a patient, including A1C, kidney health, blood pressure, heart health, eye health, and foot health.
A Practical Guide for Diabetes Monitoring: What to Check and How Often
Diabetes monitoring involves more than blood glucose alone. Learn what to monitor, why it matters, and how often it may need to be checked.
Illustration of obesity care including weight loss, A1C, blood sugar, and overall metabolic health
Weight Loss Is Only Part of the Story: What Success in Obesity Care Really Looks Like
Weight loss is not the only measure of success in obesity care. True progress includes metabolic health—such as A1C—and sustainable lifestyle changes beyond the scale
A side-by-side comparison of a patient using a GLP-1 injection pen and the OBM Rapid A1c device to highlight how at-home testing can help solve the GLP-1 adherence challenge.
GLP-1 Adherence Challenge: How At-Home A1C Testing Drives Persistence
For Innovators & Clinicians: While GLP-1 agonists represent one of the most significant therapeutic breakthroughs in decades, their commercial and clinical potential is capped by a critical, unmet challenge: long-term
ADA 2025 Recap
ADA 2025 Recap: Key Insights and Major Takeaways from the 85th Scientific Sessions
Orange Biomed exchanged key insights with industry experts while presenting our latest innovation at the 85th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), held June 20-23, 2025, in Chicago.
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