A nurse working for a home health agency is teaching a client who has diabetes mellitus about disease management. Which of the following glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) values should the nurse include in the teaching as an indicator that the client is appropriately controlling his glucose levels?

Rationale: A. 10%: An HbA1c of 10% indicates poor long-term glycemic control, reflecting consistently elevated blood glucose over the past 2–3 months. This level increases the risk of diabetes-related complications and does not represent appropriate glucose management. B. 6.3%: An HbA1c of 6.3% falls within the recommended target range for most adults with diabetes, generally under 7%. This value indicates effective long-term glycemic control and reduced risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications. C. 8.5%: An HbA1c of 8.5% reflects suboptimal glucose control, showing that the client’s blood sugar has been consistently above target levels. Management strategies need adjustment to prevent long-term complications. D. 7.8%: An HbA1c of 7.8% is slightly above the typical recommended target of <7%, indicating that the client’s blood glucose is not optimally controlled and may require modifications in diet, exercise, or medication.