Markers · Metabolic
An HbA1c of 5.6, in range and just under prediabetes. HbA1c, read against the rest of you.
What HbA1c measures, what it does in the body, why it's tested, and the two ranges it's read against. Everything said about the marker here comes from Merlin's own biomarker catalogue.
What HbA1c is
Hemoglobin A1c reflects the average blood glucose concentration over the preceding 2-3 months by measuring the percentage of hemoglobin molecules that have glucose irreversibly bound to them. Elevated levels indicate prolonged hyperglycemia and are used to diagnose and monitor type 1 and type 2 diabetes as well as prediabetes. Lower values generally indicate better long-term glycemic control and are associated with reduced risk of diabetes-related complications.
What it does in the body
Hemoglobin A1c forms when glucose in the bloodstream non-enzymatically binds to the beta chains of hemoglobin in red blood cells through a process called glycation. Because red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 90-120 days, HbA1c provides an integrated measure of ambient blood glucose levels over that period, reflecting the cumulative glycemic burden on tissues and organs.
Why it's tested
HbA1c is used to screen for and diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, monitor long-term glycemic control in patients with known diabetes, assess treatment efficacy, and estimate risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications including retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease.
The two ranges
The reference range reflects population statistics. The target reflects physiology.
- Lab reference range
- <5.7% (normal); Prediabetes: 5.7-6.4%; Diabetes: ≥6.5%; Treatment target for diabetics: <7.0% (ADA guideline)
- Functional target
- 4.6-5.3%
Those are different numbers, and you deserve to know which one you're looking at. Merlin reads your result against both.
Where this lives
A Field Guide to Metabolic Derailment
The field guide that covers HbA1c in depth, whole and public.
In a real read
The real read on this site is Cardiovascular, and it reads the lipid numbers against the metabolic picture underneath them. In its words, the platform under a high particle count is "metabolically clean", and that changes what the particle count means. An HbA1c gets read the same way, beside the numbers it changes.
A real Cardiovascular surface from a real anonymized panel: the score, the narrative, the layers underneath. Yours will be built the same way, on your own numbers.
Educational context for your conversations with your licensed healthcare provider, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Merlin reads results; it doesn't diagnose.
No HbA1c result yet? You can order it inside Merlin: it's on Merlin Core ($180).
Bring the panel this number came from. Merlin reads it against everything else you have, every system and every year, then shows you what it means and what's worth finding out next. Start with your first month.