26/03/2026
📣HbA1c levels are changing!!.
🔸️From early July, the HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes is lowering from 50 mmol/mol to 48 mmol/mol.
🔸️The prediabetes range will change to 42–47 mmol/mol.
Yesterday, Diabetes NZ welcomed the launch of Health New Zealand’s National Diabetes Roadmap as an important step towards equitable diabetes care.
A key part of that plan is updating the level of HbA1c for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. This will allow more people to be identified earlier and brings New Zealand into line with other countries.
From early July, the HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes is lowering from 50 mmol/mol to 48 mmol/mol. The prediabetes range will change to 42–47 mmol/mol. That means some people who were previously told they did not have type 2 diabetes may now have a diagnosis due to the new HbA1c level being reduced; and others may no longer have prediabetes as the HbA1c level for diagnosis has gone up.
If you or someone in your whānau has prediabetes it would be good to check what these changes might mean next time you see your doctor or practice nurse. This change is about protecting the long-term health of our communities. Finding diabetes earlier means more time, more options, and more opportunities to stay well.
