‘How important is checking HbA1c compared to daily blood sugar tests for someone with type 2 diabetes?’

“This is useful for making immediate choices, like adjusting meals or activity. So, based on the daily estimation, it is possible to improve the well-being and manage the blood sugar levels,” said Dr Ullal.

On the other hand, HbA1c is a long-term test that shows your average blood sugar over the past three months. It gives the treating doctor a bigger picture of how well your diabetes is controlled and whether your treatment plan is working. “Even if daily readings look fine, HbA1c can reveal hidden patterns of high sugar. Daily checks help with day-to-day management, while HbA1c helps track overall control and future risk of complications. Both together give the most complete and reliable view of your diabetes health,” asserted Dr Ullal.

Are you managing type 2 diabetes? (Photo: Freepik)

One should note that even though daily sugars are in the normal range, HbA1c may still be high, as the estimate is the average control of the last 90 days. “Daily sugar check-up and every three-monthly HbA1c check-ups can not be replaced with each other, and a combination of both optimises the sugar control,” added Dr Vyankatesh Shivane, consultant diabetologist and metabolic physician, department of endocrinology, Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai.

What to note?

HbA1c may be non-detectable or show a falsely high result, or low if someone may be having red blood cell abnormalities like hemoglobinopathies. “In such patients, either Fructosamine tests or daily sugar monitoring definitely helps. Nowadays, Continuous glucose monitoring devices are available, which help to measure real-time glucose, and they certainly help with dose adjustments,” said Dr Shivane.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.