Which diabetes status is reported for the 62-year-old female patient?

• A. Diabetes < 7%
• B. Diabetes 9%
• C. No diabetes
• D. Diabetes unknown

Answer: (A)

Glycemic control is commonly described using the HbA1c value, which reflects average blood glucose over roughly the past two to three months. An HbA1c target around or below 7% is standard for many adults, marking good diabetes control. Saying the patient’s status is “Diabetes < 7%” conveys that she has diabetes but her level of control is within the recommended range, which is important for planning dental care because better-controlled diabetes generally means lower infection risk and better healing.

A number like 9% would indicate poorer control and higher complication risk, which isn’t the reported status here. “No diabetes” would be inaccurate if the patient indeed has diabetes, and “Diabetes unknown” would mean there’s no information about her glycemic status, which isn’t the case when a specific controlled range is provided.