Target Goals for Diabetes

The following standard recommendations are from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for people who have been diagnosed with diabetes and are not pregnant. Work with your Doctor to identify your personal blood sugar goals based on your age, health, diabetes treatment, and whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Your range may be different if you have other health conditions or if your blood sugar is often low or high. Always follow your Doctor’s recommendations. Below is a sample record to discuss with your Doctor.

ADA target for blood sugar Your Doctor’s target for you may differ	My Goals	My Results
Before Meals: 80 to 130 mg/dl	——to——–	——to——– Date: Time: Note:
1-2 hours after meals: below 180 mg/dl	——to——–	——to——– Date: Time: Note:

Getting an A1C Test

• Make sure to get an A1C test at least twice a year. Some people may need to have the test more often, so follow your Doctor’s advice.
• A1C results tell you your average blood sugar level over 3 months. A1C results may be different in people with hemoglobin problems such as sickle cell anemia. Work with your Doctor to decide the best A1C goals for you. Follow your Doctor’s advice and recommendations.
• Your A1C result will be reported in two ways:
• A1C as a % Estimated average glucose (eAG), in the same kind of numbers as your day-to-day blood sugar readings. If after taking this test your results are too high or too low, your diabetes care plan may need to be adjusted.
• Below are ADA’s standard target ranges:

ADA’s Target	My Goals	My Results
A1C: Below 7%	——to——–
eAG: 154 mg/dl	——to——–

Questions to ask Your Doctor about monitoring blood sugar level

When visiting your Doctor, you might keep these questions in mind to ask during your appointment.

• What is my target blood sugar range?
• How often should I check my blood sugar?
• What do these numbers mean?
• Are there patterns that show I need to change my diabetes treatment?
• What changes need to be made to my diabetes care plan?