There's a new math formula that fixes HbA1c blood sugar readings for people with type 2 diabetes when their red blood cells don't live as long as usual — this could give a more accurate picture of...

If you have type 2 diabetes and your red blood cells don’t live very long, there’s a math formula that can give a better picture of your blood sugar control by adjusting your HbA1c test result.

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.

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.

If someone with type 2 diabetes has good HbA1c numbers but their red blood cells don’t live as long, their blood sugar might actually be higher than the test shows — meaning the test could be giving them a too-rosy picture of their sugar control.