1,5-Anhydroglucitol
1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a natural sugar in your blood that drops when blood glucose runs high enough to spill into the urine. Measuring it reflects short-term glucose spikes over roughly the past one to two weeks.
1,5-AG is particularly sensitive to glucose peaks after meals, which longer-term averages like HbA1c can smooth over. It can help reveal short-term swings and post-meal highs that other markers might miss. This makes it a complementary tool for understanding recent glucose variability.
With 1,5-AG the interpretation is reversed from most glucose markers: higher levels generally suggest fewer recent high-glucose episodes. Because kidney function and certain conditions affect how sugar is handled in the urine, results are read with that in mind. Your clinician interprets the value in your specific context.
A lower 1,5-AG may suggest more frequent or higher glucose spikes in recent weeks. Kidney-related factors can also influence the result, so it is interpreted carefully.
Reference ranges vary by lab, and 1,5-AG is typically viewed as one piece of a larger picture. Your clinician can explain what your value means for you.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.