Blood sugar tests measure the level of glucose in your blood. They are used to diagnose diabetes, monitor blood sugar control and screen for pre-diabetes. There are two main tests: fasting glucose and HbA1c.
Fasting Glucose
A fasting glucose test measures your blood sugar level after at least 8 hours without food. It reflects your baseline blood sugar before any meal raises it.
| Fasting Glucose (mmol/L) | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 6.1 | Normal | Blood sugar is within healthy range |
| 6.1 – 6.9 | Impaired Fasting Glucose (Pre-diabetes) | Elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes |
| 7.0 and above | Diabetes | Consistent with a diabetes diagnosis (on two occasions) |
HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin)
HbA1c measures your average blood sugar over the past 2–3 months. Unlike fasting glucose, it does not require fasting and reflects long-term control rather than a single point in time. It is the preferred test for monitoring diabetes management.
| HbA1c (%) | Category | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 5.7% | Normal | No evidence of pre-diabetes or diabetes |
| 5.7% – 6.4% | Pre-diabetes | Higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes |
| 6.5% and above | Diabetes | Consistent with a diabetes diagnosis |
| Below 7.0% | Well-controlled diabetes | Target for most patients already diagnosed |
Important: A single abnormal result is not sufficient to diagnose diabetes. Your doctor will typically confirm with a second test, or use a combination of results and symptoms to make a diagnosis. Always discuss your results with your doctor.
What to Do if You Have Pre-Diabetes
Pre-diabetes is reversible. Studies show that lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes by more than 50%. Key steps include:
- Lose 5–7% of body weight if overweight
- Exercise at least 150 minutes per week (brisk walking counts)
- Reduce refined carbohydrate and sugar intake
- Increase vegetable, fibre and protein intake
- Schedule follow-up testing every 6–12 months
Monitoring If You Have Diabetes
If you are already diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will typically request HbA1c every 3–6 months to assess how well your blood sugar is controlled. Your target HbA1c will be set by your doctor based on your individual circumstances — for most people it is below 7.0%, though targets differ for the elderly, pregnant women and others.