About your A1C goal
Find out everything you need to know about your goal and how to achieve it.
A healthy A1C for most people with diabetes is less than is 7.0%. Speak with your doctor to learn what a healthy A1C is for you.
Think of A1C like a compass. Not only can it identify prediabetes and diagnose diabetes, but it can assess how well your treatment is working over time.
Estimated A1C (eA1C) is an estimate of your current A1C level. It is calculated using your last 30 days of logged glucose values (from a glucose meter or CGM) and provides an A1C estimate. The more glucose values provided by you, the more accurate your eA1C will be.
An A1C done in a lab is the most accurate and provides your average blood sugar level over the last two to three months.
The table below converts the average of self-monitored blood sugar readings (or readings from a CGM) to eA1C values. This can be helpful in providing a glimpse into what your A1C might be. Knowing your eA1C provides general information about how well your health management is working.
No matter what your eA1C is, you’re in the right place for support. We’re here to help you meet and maintain your health goals.
Note: You and your healthcare provider should determine what targets are best for you based on your individual needs. If you’re not sure what your targets should be, ask your provider at your next visit.
A lab A1C is more accurate than an eA1C, but an A1C level in a lab or at your doctor’s office can only be checked every few months. An eA1C in our app can be viewed daily.
On your A1C goal screen, you can find your latest estimated A1C on the right-hand side of the screen under the circular image in the center.
If you have identified that you have diabetes, we set your initial estimated A1C goal at less than 7% (53 mmol/mol) based on guidelines from the American Diabetes Association for people with diabetes who are not pregnant.
If you have identified that you have prediabetes, or are at risk for diabetes, we set your initial estimated A1C goal at less than 6.4% (46 mmol/mol). An A1C of 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or above is in the diabetic range. You are welcome to adjust your A1C goal.
We recommend that you talk to your doctor to identify what A1C target is appropriate and safe for you based on your medical history.
One Drop calculates your estimated A1C using an average of the glucose measurements you’ve entered in the app over the last 30 days. The more glucose values provided by you, the more accurate your estimated A1C will be.
To help you track your progress, you can find on your A1C goal screen both your current estimated A1C as well as the change in your estimated A1C since you first started. One Drop calculates change in your estimated A1C by comparing your most recent seven days of blood sugar readings with your first several readings. Because of this, it can take eight days to start seeing progress on your A1C goal screen.
You will also find a bright pink progress indicator in the center of the A1C goal screen. As you work toward your estimated A1C goal, you will see the pink bar grow clockwise. The progress bar will form a full pink ring when you reach your goal.
Speak with your doctor to help identify a goal that’s safe for you. If you have a question about whether you should adjust your estimated A1C goal, start a chat with your One Drop coach.
Think about what is safe and realistic for you. Then, choose a small manageable target based on how it could fit into your lifestyle.
If you’d like additional support in setting a goal, reach out to your One Drop coach.
You might find that reaching your A1C goal means paying attention to the following:
- Medication
- Adjusting physical activity levels
- Food choices
- Sleep
- Stress management
Note how these areas affect your A1C and make adjustments as needed.
If you’ve achieved your goal, consider reflecting on the following:
- What changes have I made to get here?
- What changes were easy? Which were challenging?
- Do I feel like they were the best changes to make for me?
- What differences do I notice about my body and my mind?
- How can I maintain the changes I’ve made?
- What other strategies do I want to try on my journey toward better health?