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?

A. An HbA1c of 8.5% indicates suboptimal glucose control. Values above 7% in most adults with diabetes suggest that blood glucose levels have been consistently higher than recommended, increasing the risk of long-term complications. B. While slightly lower than 8.5%, an HbA1c of 7.8% still indicates above-target glucose levels. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) generally recommends a target HbA1c of less than 7% for most nonpregnant adults. C. An HbA1c of 10% reflects poor glucose control and a high risk of complications such as neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. This value signals the need for urgent adjustment of therapy. D. An HbA1c of 6.3% falls within the target range recommended for most adults with diabetes, indicating that the client is effectively managing blood glucose over the past 2–3 months. This level reflects good glycemic control and reduces the risk of long-term complications.