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Healthy aging and longevity

The best test to measure your diabetes risk

An HbA1c test gives doctors the broadest view of blood sugar levels.

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A hemoglobin HbA1c test is standard for anyone at risk for diabetes or anyone with diabetes. The HbA1c is a blood test that shows a person's average blood sugar levels over a three-month period.

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About the Reviewer

photo of David M. Nathan, MD

David M. Nathan, MD, Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing

Dr. David M. Nathan is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, and is director of the diabetes center and the clinical research center at Massachusetts General Hospital. An internationally acclaimed expert on diabetes, he … See Full Bio
View all posts by David M. Nathan, MD
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