What is A1C and Why It Matters
for Diabetes Management

What is A1C?

A1C 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)
What is A1C?

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.

Relationship of A1C to risk of microvascular complication

Blogs

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

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2025, Orange Biomed showcased the OBM rapid A1c device, advancing healthcare with groundbreaking diabetes care innovation.
Discover the key differences, their roles in diabetes care, and how combining CGM and A1C methods can enhance diabetes management and improve health outcomes.
Discover Orange Biomed’s key takeaways from MEDICA 2024, including innovations in diabetes care, the OBM rapid A1c device, and future healthcare collaborations.
Learn about World Diabetes Day 2024 with the theme “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps”, and innovations like OBM rapid A1c transforming diabetes care, during Diabetes Awareness Month.
Discover Orange Biomed’s journey and innovations in diabetes technology after the Diabetes Technology Meeting 2024, focusing on health equity and solutions.
Explore innovations in A1C testing at the Diabetes Technology Meeting 2024. Learn about Orange Biomed’s OBM rapid A1c and its impact on equitable diabetes care.