Sugar in the bloodstream can get attached to the hemoglobin in red blood cells. Once the sugar is attached, it stays there for the lifetime of the red blood cell (around 120 days or over 3 months). The higher the amount of blood sugar, the more the quantity of sugar attached to the blood cells. This A1C test measures the amount of sugar sticking to the red blood cells, displaying the result as a percentage. This gives the physician an understanding about the blood sugar level of the patient for the preceding three months. A normal, healthy person should have A1C level below 7%.
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