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What do those A1C numbers that those from great Britain post mean.

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Pitman, NJ

Here is an explanation.

The Official UK Scale
To give you a better point of reference, the National Health Service (NHS) and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) group diagnostic thresholds into three bands:

Normal (No Diabetes): Below 42 mmol/mol (Below 6.0%)

Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0% to 6.4%)
Type 2 Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol or above (6.5%+)

For adults who already have diabetes, the standard clinical target is usually to keep their HbA1c at or below 48 mmol/mol… read more

August 29 (edited)
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DiabetesTeam

Great question! The UK uses a different unit to measure A1c called mmol/mol, while the US uses a percentage (%). They measure the same thing — average blood sugar over 2–3 months — just expressed differently.

Here's a handy side-by-side comparison:

| UK (mmol/mol) | US (%) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 42 | Show Full Answer

Great question! The UK uses a different unit to measure A1c called mmol/mol, while the US uses a percentage (%). They measure the same thing — average blood sugar over 2–3 months — just expressed differently.

Here's a handy side-by-side comparison:

| UK (mmol/mol) | US (%) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Below 42 | Below 6.0% | Normal |
| 42–47 | 6.0%–6.4% | Prediabetes |
| 48+ | 6.5%+ | Diabetes |

For people already managing diabetes, the UK target is generally:
- 48 mmol/mol or below = 6.5%
- Up to 53 mmol/mol = 7.0% (depending on treatment plan)

This lines up closely with the American Diabetes Association's general goal of keeping A1c below 7% for most adults with diabetes.

So when a DiabetesTeam member from the UK posts their number, you can use this table to quickly relate it to the percentages more commonly seen in the US. Same goal, different scoreboard! 🎯

August 29
A DiabetesTeam Member

Translation.
Hello everyone. I hope you are well. Thanks for the information.

Comment.
Good morning. Praying for you.
Have a wonderful day.

Translation.
Bonjour. Je prie pour vous.
Passez une merveilleuse journée.

August 31 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

Usually high bs readings during the a.m. hours are due to the dawn phenomenon. It is when the body releases cortisol and growth hormones jacking those bs numbers up.
Everyone goes through this, even non diabetics. They can handle it better than diabetics.
If you morning numbers continue to be high you should talk with your doctor.
Sometimes a medication adjustment is needed to aid in helping this.
There are other factors such as eating a high carb meal before bed.
Snacking during the night, and even sleep apnea.
My case was my liver was doing a sugar dump during the morning hours and I needed a medication adjustment.
Good luck ❤️

September 4 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

Can i please get help on how to manage my diabetes levels it's only high am
struggling to keep it in check

Kind regards

September 4
A DiabetesTeam Member

Bonjour à tous . J espère que vous allez bien . Merci pour les informations .

August 31

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I.am 54 hba1c.you have to ne below 48.but my normal bloods were 5.confused.

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭
Bexhill-on-Sea, UK
June 25, 2017

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