HbA1c is a measure of your blood sugar levels over the last two to three months. Your healthcare professional will perform a blood test to measure your HbA1c and use this to set a target blood sugar range for you.
If you have type 2 diabetes, every 1% drop in HbA1c reduces your risk of complications. The HbA1c target ranges for people with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are shown in this image.
While it is very important to stay within the target HbA1c range determined by your doctor, it is normal for your blood sugar to fluctuate throughout the day depending on many factors. However, it can be dangerous if your blood sugar levels go above or below the healthy range and are left untreated.
High blood sugar, known as hyperglycaemia or 'hypers', damage your blood vessels. It can reduce the supply of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to your body's organs and nerves and, over time, cause serious health complications.
Controlling your high blood sugar levels will help you avoid complications like:
Low blood sugar, known as hypoglycaemia or ‘hypos’, occurs when blood sugar levels fall below 4.0mmol/L or 72 mg/dL.
High blood sugar is dangerous in the long-term, but low blood sugar levels can also impact your health.
You may have already experienced low blood sugar without knowing it. People with diabetes who are on medication need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar. They can include:
Low blood sugar and its symptoms can be dangerous and you need to know what to do if they happen.
You can experience low blood sugar for many reasons, including if you:
On average, studies show that people with type 2 diabetes on insulin
treatment experience 23 low blood sugar episodes (mild or moderate)
over a year.
The effects of low blood sugar can be different for everyone and
hypoglycaemia symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Repeated hypoglycaemia can, over time, lead to 'hypo unawareness',
where the warning symptoms of low blood sugar stop being felt, making
it harder to identify and more difficult to manage.
Download the Hypoglycaemia Profiler to help recognise and track your hypos.
It is important to speak with a doctor or a nurse if you are
experiencing low blood sugar. In some cases, it is a good idea to
drink a fruit juice or eat 3 candies in order to get immediate relief,
or eat 3 or 4 sugar tablets if you have them under the recommendation
of your doctor or nurse. Your doctor can help you find the best option
for you in case of hypoglycemia and may adjust the dose of your other
diabetes medicines to reduce the risk of low blood sugar.
