HbA1c vs Fasting Blood Sugar: What's the Difference?

If you're managing diabetes or have been told you're at risk, you've likely encountered both Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) and HbA1c tests — but they measure different things. Fasting Blood Sugar gives a snapshot of your glucose level at a single point in time, after an overnight fast. It's useful for daily monitoring but can be affected by what you ate the night before or your stress levels that morning. HbA1c, on the other hand, reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months by measuring glucose attached to haemoglobin in your red blood cells. This makes it a more reliable indicator of long-term blood sugar control, which is why doctors often use it to diagnose and monitor diabetes management over time.