What Your Test Results Mean

Doctors use blood tests to check your blood sugar, also called blood glucose.

The A1C test is like a 3 month report card. It shows your average blood sugar over about 3 months, as a percentage.

The fasting test checks blood sugar after not eating for a set time. The glucose tolerance test checks it 2 hours after a sweet drink. It shows how your body handles sugar.

A lab report lists three tests. The A1C shows an average over about 3 months, the fasting test shows sugar after no food overnight, and the 2-hour test shows sugar 2 hours after a sweet drink. Bindu points to each line as you open it.

Each test has its own number for diabetes. A1C of 6.5% or higher falls in the diabetes range.

A fasting result of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher does too. So does a 2-hour result of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher.

These are cutoffs for diagnosis, not your personal targets.

A horizontal scale marking normal, prediabetes and diabetes ranges for A1C, fasting and 2-hour results.

Key takeaways

• The A1C test shows your average blood sugar over about 3 months.
• Diabetes results are usually confirmed with a second test on another day.
• Ask your doctor to walk you through your own numbers.

Try it

Find your lab report and circle any A1C, fasting or 2-hour numbers you can see on it.