Many people are told by their GP, “your blood sugar is fine,” but research shows that HbA1c levels above 38 mmol/mol (5.6%) can already cause blood vessel damage and raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, dementia and type 2 diabetes. The HbA1c test measures the average sugar in your blood over three months, and while UK guidelines only flag diabetes at 48 mmol/mol (6.5%), problems often begin much earlier. Chronically high blood glucose, usually driven by a