Which tool measures average glucose over roughly 2-3 months?

Which tool measures average glucose over roughly 2-3 months?

• A. Glucometer
• B. Ketone meter
• C. HbA1c
• D. Continuous glucose monitor

Answer: (C)

The main idea is how long-term glycemic control is assessed. HbA1c reflects the average blood glucose over the past two to three months because it measures the amount of glucose that has attached to hemoglobin in red blood cells, and those cells live about 120 days. As glucose sticks to hemoglobin over time, the HbA1c value integrates that exposure and provides a single percent that represents mean glucose over the recent months. A fingerstick glucometer gives one current glucose reading rather than an average. A ketone meter checks ketone bodies, not glucose. A continuous glucose monitor tracks glucose continuously over days to weeks, offering detailed short-term trends but not the official 2–3 month average that HbA1c provides.

The main idea is how long-term glycemic control is assessed. HbA1c reflects the average blood glucose over the past two to three months because it measures the amount of glucose that has attached to hemoglobin in red blood cells, and those cells live about 120 days. As glucose sticks to hemoglobin over time, the HbA1c value integrates that exposure and provides a single percent that represents mean glucose over the recent months. A fingerstick glucometer gives one current glucose reading rather than an average. A ketone meter checks ketone bodies, not glucose. A continuous glucose monitor tracks glucose continuously over days to weeks, offering detailed short-term trends but not the official 2–3 month average that HbA1c provides.