Table 5

Respondent understanding of HbA1c and diabetes long-term complications

N (%)
Satisfactory HbA1c level
 <6.5% (48 mmol/mol)164 (16.6)
 6.5–7.4% (48–57 mmol/mol)447 (45.2)
 7.5–8.4% (58–68 mmol/mol)206 (20.8)
 8.5% or more (69 mmol/mol or more)74 (7.5)
 Do not know99 (10.0)
HbA1c familiarity
 Yes, I have heard of the glucose test (HbA1c) before894 (90.0)
 No, I have not heard of the glucose test (HbA1c) before61 (6.1)
 Do not know39 (4.0)
Technical HbA1c understanding
 A HbA1c of 9%…
  Means that my morning blood sugar was also 9 mmol/L50 (5.6)
  Says something about how my blood sugar has been in the past 3 months496 (56.2)
  Means that my blood sugar on average has been 9 mmol/L in the past 3 months336 (38.1)
Places at risk of damage due to high blood sugar
 Hands206 (24.5)
 Feet878 (91.7)
 Heart590 (66.0)
 Kidneys755 (81.1)
 Eyes906 (93.6)
 Teeth/gums383 (44.4)
  • HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin.