Blood Sugar Management

Keeping your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible through proper dietary changes, exercise, and/or medication and insulin therapy is the key to good diabetes control. Avoiding highs and lows will not only make you feel better, but will significantly reduce your risk of diabetes complications. The only way to make sure your blood glucose levels are on target is to test frequently each day and to get regular A1c tests from your healthcare provider. What numbers should you be looking for? While individual goals will vary, there are some general guidelines that are suggested by diabetes professionals.

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommends the following general blood glucose testing goals for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes:

Preprandial* (fasting, or before a meal) - <110 mg/dl (6.1 mmol/l)

Two hours postprandial (after the start of a meal) - <140 mg/dl (7.8 mmol/l)

A1c (three month blood glucose average) – 6.5% or lowerThe American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests slightly different targets:

Preprandial* – 90-130 mg/dl (5.0-7.2 mmol/l)

Postprandial* (1-2 hours) - <180 mg/dl (<10.0 mmol/l)

A1c (three month blood glucose average) – 7.0% or lower

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