Know your target range

Ask your healthcare team what the right blood sugar range is for you. Your healthcare professional works with you to set target blood-sugar test results based on factors that include:

• The type of diabetes you have.
• Your symptoms.
• Your age.
• How long you've lived with diabetes.
• Whether or not you are pregnant.
• Any health conditions you have that are related to diabetes.
• Your overall health and other medical conditions you have.
• The cost, complexity and frequency of side effects of the medicines used to treat diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) tends to recommend the following target blood sugar levels. These targets are for most of the healthy people with diabetes who take medicines:

• Between 80 and 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 4.4 to 7.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L) before meals.
• Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) two hours after meals.

But the ADA notes that these goals often vary. Your goals depend on your age and your health. Tell your healthcare professional if your blood sugar is often higher or lower than your target range.

Some people will have slightly higher blood sugar goals, including those who:

• Are age 60 and older.
• Have other medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease.
• Don't feel symptoms of low blood sugar. This is called hypoglycemia unawareness.