Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is closely related to the risk of chronic diabetic complications.Each 1.0% reduction in HbA1c lowers the risk of complications by 35%.
What HbA1c level should patients with diabetes aim for to prevent diabetic complications? This article provides the answer.
The normal range for HbA1c is 4.0%–6.0%.Targets should be individualized based on each person’s health status.
For general adult patients with type 2 diabetes:HbA1c target is < 7.0%.
For younger patients with short disease duration, no complications, or those managed with lifestyle intervention alone (no hypoglycemia‑raising medications) and without cardiovascular disease:HbA1c target is < 6.5%, or even close to normal.
For patients with long‑standing type 2 diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, or poor health status:HbA1c target is < 8.0%.
For elderly patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, short duration, low hypoglycemia risk:HbA1c target is ≤ 7.0%.
For elderly patients with long disease duration, moderate complications or comorbidities, and hypoglycemia risk:HbA1c target is 7.0%–8.0%.
For patients with type 1 diabetes (children and adolescents):HbA1c target is < 7.5%.
For adult patients with type 1 diabetes:HbA1c target is < 7.0%.
For elderly patients with type 1 diabetes:HbA1c target is < 7.5%.HbA1c is not recommended for evaluating glycemic control in patients with gestational diabetes.Blood glucose monitoring should be used directly instead.
For diabetic patients planning pregnancy,it is recommended to conceive when HbA1c is < 6.5%, provided no hypoglycemia occurs.