A1c 4.6%
A1c of 4.6%: what it means
An A1c of 4.6% is in the normal range, well below the 5.7% start of prediabetes. It maps to an average glucose of about 85 mg/dL over the past 2 to 3 months.
Average glucose from the ADAG formula, eAG = 28.7 × A1c − 46.7 (Nathan 2008). Categories from the ADA Standards of Care (ADA Standards 2026, sec. 2).
What an A1c of 4.6% means
- The ADA defines a normal A1c as below 5.7%. From 5.7% to 6.4% is prediabetes, and 6.5% or higher is diabetes. (ADA Standards 2026, sec. 2)
- Faster red blood cell turnover, for example after blood loss or with hemolysis, usually lowers A1c, so a result can understate average glucose in those cases. (ADA Standards 2026, sec. 2)
- The ADA criteria have no lower cut point: every A1c below 5.7% falls in the normal range. A low result is worth a second look mainly when it does not fit glucose readings, since the ADA recommends checking for interference when the two disagree substantially. (ADA Standards 2026, sec. 2)
- Repeat tests on the same sample vary a little. NIDDK gives the example that a result of 6.8% could read anywhere from 6.4% to 7.2% on a repeat test. (NIDDK)
Questions to ask your doctor
- Given my risk factors, when should I be tested again?
- Would a fasting glucose or glucose tolerance test add anything for me?
- Could anything make my A1c read low, such as anemia, blood loss or a hemoglobin variant?
Read next: what the A1c test measures, A1c by age, the prediabetes A1c range, low A1c. Lab reports in mmol/mol? Use the HbA1c mmol/mol converter.
Nearby values
| A1c | mg/dL | mmol/L | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1% | 71 | 3.9 | Normal |
| 4.2% | 74 | 4.1 | Normal |
| 4.3% | 77 | 4.3 | Normal |
| 4.4% | 80 | 4.4 | Normal |
| 4.5% | 82 | 4.6 | Normal |
| 4.6% | 85 | 4.7 | Normal |
| 4.7% | 88 | 4.9 | Normal |
| 4.8% | 91 | 5.1 | Normal |
| 4.9% | 94 | 5.2 | Normal |
| 5.0% | 97 | 5.4 | Normal |
| 5.1% | 100 | 5.5 | Normal |
All values from 4.0% to 14.0% are in the A1c chart. Planning a retest? See how fast A1c can change. Over 65? See A1c by age.
Try another number
Estimated average glucose (eAG) = 28.7 × A1c − 46.7, from the ADAG study. mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 18.016. Real averages vary from person to person at the same A1c. This is a conversion, not a diagnosis.
Other key numbers
6.5 mmol/L
6.6 mmol/L
6.8 mmol/L
7.0 mmol/L
7.1 mmol/L
7.3 mmol/L
7.4 mmol/L
7.6 mmol/L
7.8 mmol/L
8.6 mmol/L
9.4 mmol/L
10.2 mmol/L
10.9 mmol/L
11.7 mmol/L
13.3 mmol/L
14.9 mmol/L
16.5 mmol/L
Sources
- Nathan DM, Kuenen J, Borg R, Zheng H, Schoenfeld D, Heine RJ; A1c-Derived Average Glucose (ADAG) Study Group. Translating the A1C assay into estimated average glucose values. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(8):1473-1478. doi.org/10.2337/dc08-0545
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes: Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026. Diabetes Care. 2026;49(Suppl 1). doi.org/10.2337/dc26-S002
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH). The A1C Test & Diabetes. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diagnostic-tests/a1c-test
Written and maintained by the controla1clevels.com editorial team. We do not have a medical reviewer; every claim links to its primary source above. Last reviewed: 2026-10-25. Spotted an error? See About.