Therefore, the target range should be adjusted related to the advanced age of the patient. If you’ve had low blood sugar without feeling or noticing symptoms (hypoglycemia unawareness), you may need to check your blood sugar more often to see if it’s low and treat it. Driving with low blood sugar can be dangerous, so be sure to check your blood sugar before you get behind the wheel. Low blood sugar (also called hypoglycemia) has many causes, including missing a meal, taking too much insulin, taking other diabetes medicines, exercising more than normal, and drinking alcohol.
Monitoring blood glucose levels is crucial for individuals with diabetes to manage their condition effectively. One key aspect of this management is knowing your target ranges on blood glucose. These ranges help determine if your blood sugar levels are within the optimal limits for good health.
Careful monitoring of your blood sugar and knowing what may cause it to rise or fall can help you and a health team develop a diabetes care plan and set treatment goals. In the morning, the liver increases glucose production to give the body ample energy to wake up, triggering the pancreas to release insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. Those living with diabetes usually check their blood sugar levels several times a day, including before meals and snacks and two hours after eating. An A1C test, also called glycosylated hemoglobin, is a standard diagnostic tool used to measure a person’s average blood sugar levels over the past three months (90 days). It reflects how well your blood sugar is controlled during that time period. Your blood sugar level fluctuates throughout the day as you eat, exercise and sleep.
What are Target Ranges?
Carbohydrate counting, or carb counting, means planning and keeping track of the amount of carbs you eat and drink in each meal or snack. However, if you take insulin, counting carbs can help you know how much insulin to take. Making lifestyle changes can be hard, but starting with small changes and building from there may benefit your health. You may want to get help from family, loved ones, friends, and other trusted people in your community. You can also get information from your health care professionals. To have a healthy lifestyle, take steps now to plan healthy meals and snacks, do physical activities, get enough sleep, and quit smoking or using tobacco products.
Target ranges refer to the ideal blood glucose levels that individuals with diabetes should aim to achieve. These ranges vary depending on factors such as age, overall health, and type of diabetes. Typically, target ranges are set by medical professionals based on individual circumstances.
Some activities that need balance may be unsafe for people with nerve damage or vision problems caused by diabetes. Ask your health care professional or health care team about activities that are safe for you. This page states ‘normal’ blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine people with diabetes.
Why are Target Ranges Important?
Keeping blood glucose levels within target ranges helps reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes. High blood sugar levels can lead to long-term health issues such as heart disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems. On the other hand, low blood sugar levels can result in immediate symptoms like dizziness, confusion, and even loss of consciousness.
By regularly monitoring blood glucose levels and adjusting lifestyle habits as needed, individuals with diabetes can strive to keep their blood sugar within target ranges. This may involve making dietary changes, increasing physical activity, taking medication as prescribed, and working closely with healthcare providers to ensure optimal management of the condition.
Individual needs can differ, and a doctor will set goals at the start of treatment. Some actions can help adjust glucose levels if they are slightly high or low. Blood sugar charts often show recommended levels as a range, allowing for differences between individuals. Lindsay Modglin is a nurse and professional writer who regularly writes about complex medical topics, as well as travel and the great outdoors. She holds a professional certificate in scientific writing from Stanford University School of Medicine and has contributed to many major publications including Insider and Verywell. As a passionate advocate for science-based content, she loves writing captivating material that supports scientific research and education.
For patients who are significantly below the target of 70 percent TIR and may feel discouraged, health care professionals can emphasize that every 5 percent increase in TIR will have clinical benefits. You are shooting for your blood sugars to be in a target range, so you have a little leeway. It is important to get your blood sugars into your target range. This is due to the target ranges for blood sugars coincide with the blood sugar target range that prevents the long-term complications of diabetes.
One important note to consider about one’s A1C number is that it may be affected by other medical conditions such as anemia, which could result in an inaccurate reading. This is why looking at additional numbers, such as one’s fasting glucose, in conjunction with an A1C number, is usually recommended. It provides a picture of the total impact a serving of food will have on energy levels. Measured against glucose, which is 100 in the index, foods such as soft drinks, white bread, potatoes, and white rice have a high glycemic score. Foods such as whole grain oats and some fruits and plants have a lower glycemic score. However, glucose can only enter cells if enough insulin is also circulating in the bloodstream.
In Conclusion
Understanding and maintaining target ranges on blood glucose is essential for managing diabetes effectively and reducing the risk of complications. By staying within these optimal limits, individuals can improve their quality of life and promote overall well-being. If you have diabetes, make sure to work closely with your healthcare team to establish and adhere to your specific target ranges for blood glucose control.
