What is an optimal HbA1c level?
The short answer
Optimal HbA1c is under 5.4 %, as stated on video.
“Well, there's nothing magical about getting your A1C below 7. The health threats begin at an A1C of 5.3 and 5.4.”
Not every source agrees with that line.
“six is sort of the cut off, five and a half is really optimal.”
What each range means
- under 5.4 % Optimal
- 5.4–5.7 % Normal on most reports. Above optimal Dr. David Perlmutter · 49:54 →
- over 5.7 % Most labs flag this as high
What HbA1c measures
The share of your hemoglobin with sugar stuck to it. That builds up over the life of a red blood cell.
It averages your blood sugar over the past few months. One good day or one bad day leaves it where it is.
Checked against MedlinePlus — Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test.
Why it matters, on the record
“So as hemoglobin A1C creeps up by a tenth of a point that changes dramatic and your risk of disease as you age goes up with each tenth of a point.”
Common questions
What is an optimal HbA1c level?
Under 5.4 %, from a quote on video (Dr. David Perlmutter, 49:54).
What is a normal HbA1c level?
Most US labs print 4–5.7 %. Your report grades you against that range. It exists to catch disease, not to describe your best.
What does your HbA1c number mean?
On a typical lab range, under 4 % is low, 4 to 5.7 is normal and over 5.7 is high. Your own report prints its range next to your number, and that is the one your lab uses. The optimal range on this page comes with the quote behind it.
Do the sources agree?
No. There is also a case for a different line: “six is sort of the cut off, five and a half is really optimal.” (Dr. Mark Hyman, 7:58)
What does the HbA1c test measure?
The share of your hemoglobin with sugar stuck to it. That builds up over the life of a red blood cell. It averages your blood sugar over the past few months. One good day or one bad day leaves it where it is.
Where the record disagrees
“six is sort of the cut off, five and a half is really optimal.”