About the A1c Calculator
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) reflects the percentage of red blood cell hemoglobin that has glucose attached to it, which builds up in rough proportion to average blood sugar over the roughly 8-12 week lifespan of a red blood cell. Because A1c is reported as a percentage, it can be hard to picture in the same units as a home glucose meter. This calculator converts your A1c percentage into an estimated average glucose (eAG) figure in both mg/dL and mmol/L, using the ADA/ADAG-endorsed regression formula, and shows where the reading falls against the standard diagnostic categories.
The formula it uses
The 2008 ADAG (A1c-Derived Average Glucose) study related thousands of paired A1c and continuous glucose monitoring measurements and produced a simple linear regression: estimated average glucose in mg/dL equals 28.7 times the A1c percentage minus 46.7. For example, an A1c of 7.0% corresponds to an eAG of about 154 mg/dL. The calculator then converts that mg/dL figure to mmol/L by dividing by 18.0182, the standard conversion factor between the two glucose units.
Reading the A1c category
The American Diabetes Association defines three bands from a single A1c test: normal is below 5.7%, prediabetes is 5.7% to 6.4%, and diabetes is 6.5% or higher. These are screening thresholds, not a diagnosis by themselves — a result in the prediabetes or diabetes range is typically confirmed with a repeat test or a second measurement method before any diagnosis is made.
When to consult a professional
This calculator performs arithmetic only; it does not diagnose, does not recommend medication or dosing, and cannot account for conditions that affect A1c accuracy (such as certain anemias, hemoglobin variants, or recent blood loss or transfusion). Discuss any A1c result, and any change from a previous reading, with a healthcare provider who has your full medical history.