HbA1c test: your blood sugar over 3 months

Your blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day, depending on what you eat and how much you move. HbA1c looks at the bigger picture instead: it reflects your average blood sugar over roughly the past 8 to 12 weeks, so a single meal does not affect the result.

An HbA1c test therefore gives you a calm, stable data point. It is not a diagnosis, but an efficient starting point for talking with your doctor about your blood-sugar regulation.

This test can be of interest if you like to keep an eye on your health preventively and have little time for separate appointments. Think of busy professionals who want to know how their blood sugar develops over the weeks.

• you carry excess weight or have a less active lifestyle

• diabetes runs in your family

• you notice symptoms such as frequent thirst, passing urine often, or fatigue

• you simply want to check your blood sugar over a longer period

Many people look at their longer-term blood sugar for these reasons, often simply for reassurance or as a starting point.

This test measures a single blood value:

• HbA1c (glycated haemoglobin): the part of your haemoglobin to which glucose is bound. To learn more about this value, read our explanation of HbA1c.

Because glucose attaches slowly to haemoglobin, HbA1c says something about your blood sugar across several weeks rather than at this single moment.

Where a single glucose test gives you a snapshot, HbA1c shows how your blood sugar has behaved on average. A raised value can therefore point to less well-regulated blood sugar.

The result can give an indication of your diabetes-related values and whether further investigation may be worthwhile. What your value means depends on your situation and is assessed by the doctor.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are 650+ locations across the Netherlands, so you can often choose one close to work or home.

After ordering online, you pick a sample point and a time that suits you. The blood is drawn by trained staff.

You might consider this test when:

• you want to track your blood-sugar regulation over a longer period

• you have risk factors such as excess weight or diabetes in the family

• you have symptoms you associate with your blood sugar

• you want to revisit an earlier value after some time

Because HbA1c is not affected by your last meal, you can have blood drawn at any time of day, which makes it easy to fit around a busy schedule.

Your result shows your HbA1c alongside a reference range, so you can see whether your value falls within the expected area. In the Netherlands, HbA1c is usually reported using the IFCC standard, expressed in mmol/mol.

Numbers alone say little, because reference values can vary by lab, age, and situation. That is why a BIG-registered doctor always reviews your result and places it in the right context.

A big advantage of HbA1c is that you do not need to fast. Unlike a fasting glucose measurement, it does not matter whether or what you have eaten that day.

If you take medication or supplements, you usually do not need to change anything for this test. If in doubt, ask your doctor.

Your result is usually online within 2 working days of the blood draw, with your value, a reference range, and a clear explanation, so you can see where you stand quickly and efficiently.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.