Free A1C Tests Are Available Now—Here’s How To Check Your Blood Sugar Levels
Plus learn when the results can signal prediabetes or diabetes
With prediabetes on the rise, a simple A1C blood test reveals exactly where your blood sugar sits and whether you’re heading toward type 2 diabetes before you have a diagnosis. The catch? Financial and insurance barriers have kept some women from getting tested regularly. But here’s some good news this National Diabetes Awareness Month: You can get a free A1C test. We spoke with leading doctors to learn what your A1C measures, simple strategies to lower your diabetes risk and where to get screened for free.
What is A1C?
“A hemoglobin A1C test measures the average blood sugar level in a person’s body over a three-month period,” says Jennifer Brown, MD, a dual board-certified physician in family medicine and obesity medicine. “A1C is reported as a percentage; the higher the A1C percentage, the more sugar molecules that are attached to hemoglobin proteins.”
Think of your A1C as a snapshot of how your daily habits are affecting your overall metabolic health. “A1c test verifies whether a patient’s daily decisions actually translated to sustained blood sugar control, or if they need better control with diet and/or medication,” adds Austin Shuxiao, MD, founder of a mobile IV company in NYC. It’s an important screening tool to help diagnose diabetes and prediabetes.
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How to get a free A1C test
“Those living with diabetes should have an A1C test every three to six months as part of their diabetes management plan,” says Dr. Brown. “Those with prediabetes should have an A1C test done yearly. Healthy adults should be screened for diabetes with an A1C every three years.”
Financial barriers can sometimes make regular screening difficult, but there are free A1C test options available. In fact, the American Red Cross is offering free A1C tests during Diabetes Awareness Month, this November, for people donating blood through the Red Cross who haven’t had an A1C test in the past 12 months.
Per the organization, the initiative is already making an impact. “Since March, the Red Cross has provided approximately 550,000 A1C screenings, notifying 145,000 individuals about concerning results,” according to a statement by the Red Cross.
Other resources that may offer free A1C tests
Community health centers: “Community health fairs, health centers and health departments occasionally offer free A1C screenings,” says Dr. Brown. Check with yours to find out when they’re next offering free tests.
Pharmacies: “Many pharmacies offer free or low-cost A1C testing at certain times of year,” says Dr. Brown. And Dr. Shuxiao adds that “Walgreens provides free A1C screening at some of its locations, and particularly during November.”
What your A1C test results mean
Once you get your screening, you’re likely wondering what the test results mean. Dr. Shuxiao breaks it down in the A1C chart below:
| A1C test result | |
| Normal | Below 5.7 percent |
| Prediabetes | 5.7 to 6.4 percent |
| Diabetes | 6.5 percent or higher |
“For people with diabetes, we typically want them to achieve an A1C level less than 7 percent, though for elderly patients, we are usually more lenient since stricter blood sugar control does not always translate to better health outcomes in this demographic,” says Dr. Shuxiao. (Learn more about what’s considered a normal A1C test result for your age.)
If you recently got your A1C tested and your blood sugar levels were slightly elevated, remember that as long as you don’t hit the prediabetes range, it doesn’t hurt to think about your A1C in a more balanced way. In fact, there is such a thing as your A1C being too low.
“This is usually a result of chronic hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar,” says Dr. Brown. “This can occur if a diabetic is on too much insulin, in people with eating disorders or in alcoholics. Rarely, extremely low A1Cs can be a result of a particular type of tumor.”
What causes prediabetes?
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with prediabetes—that elevated A1C range that falls between normal and type 2 diabetes—and you’re feeling blindsided, you’re not alone. Many women wonder how this happened when they thought they were relatively healthy.
Dr. Brown shares that you may have prediabetes due to several contributing factors including:
- Low or a lack of physical activity
- Genetic predisposition
- Consuming a diet with high in ultraprocessed foods
- Not getting enough sleep
- Age and stress
- Certain conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
“Prediabetes occurs from the same mechanism as diabetes, which is insulin resistance,” adds Dr. Shuxiao. “It is just at an earlier stage, where the body isn’t as insulin resistant.”
2 simple ways to lower your diabetes risk
If your A1C test results have been creeping up and you want to bring them back down, here are two proven strategies to lower your risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes:
Prioritize a diet rich in whole foods
Choosing nourishing foods provides your body with essential nutrients and helps manage blood sugar. “Avoid processed sugar or other simple, refined carbohydrates like white flour or sugary beverages,” says Dr. Shuxiao.
What should you have instead? “Choose whole foods, like veggies and fruits, over ultraprocessed foods,” says Dr. Brown. “Ultraprocessed foods are high in added sugars and carbs, which can make it harder to manage glucose levels.”
Prioritize good sleep
Sleep quality matters just as much as sleep quantity. “Restorative sleep lowers cortisol levels, which in turn, stabilizes blood glucose levels,” says Dr. Brown.
One way to make sure your sleep is actually restorative is figuring out if you have any sleep conditions. “Investigate for sleep apnea,” says Dr. Shuxiao. “Many individuals suffer from sleep apnea and it doesn’t just affect your energy levels the next day. Undiagnosed sleep fragmentation from sleep apnea causes sustained release of cortisol and adrenaline, stress hormones that raise blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance.” (Learn how to tell if you have sleep apnea.)
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