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 managing your diabetes well. 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 you are managing your diabetes and 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 when managing diabetes, 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 when managing 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 lower

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) suggests slightly different targets when managing diabetes:
# 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

These goals aren’t for everyone, and your personal testing targets may run higher or lower. Your diabetes managing care team will work with you to determine self-testing blood glucose goals based on your individual medical history and lifestyle requirements.

*Note: Measurements are for blood plasma; whole blood values would be approximately 15% lower.
(information for this article obtained from www.dlife.com)

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