Compare markers
A1C vs glucose
A1C reflects average blood sugar over months; glucose is a snapshot at the time of the blood draw.
General biomarker education — not personalized medical advice. Learn more
A1C
A1C is a blood test that reflects average blood glucose over roughly the prior two to three months.
Glucose
Glucose measures the concentration of sugar in the blood at the time the sample was taken.
Why both appear on reports
Metabolic panels and diabetes monitoring often include both markers because they answer different timing questions.
When to discuss with your clinician
Ask whether fasting status, recent illness, or medications could affect either value on your report.