Lots of people with type 2 diabetes have red blood cells that don’t live as long as usual, and because of that, their A1c blood sugar test might show lower numbers than reality — meaning the test could be misleading for many.

If you have type 2 diabetes and your red blood cells don’t live as long—less than 75 days—your A1c test might not give a true picture of your blood sugar control, because the test could show lower numbers than reality.

If you have type 2 diabetes and your red blood cells don’t live as long, your actual blood sugar might be higher than what your A1c test shows — meaning the A1c test could be misleading for some people.

People with type 2 diabetes may have red blood cells that don't live as long as those in healthy people—about 95 days compared to 100 days—suggesting their bodies replace blood cells faster.

If you have type 2 diabetes, higher blood sugar might make your red blood cells die faster, which could mess up the accuracy of your A1c test — a common way doctors check long-term blood sugar control.

If someone with type 2 diabetes has red blood cells that don't live as long as usual, their A1c test might show better blood sugar control than they actually have — meaning doctors could miss signs of high blood sugar over time.