Setting Accurate Glucose Targets for Better Diabetes Control

Achieving optimal diabetes management requires more than just monitoring blood sugar levels—it demands setting accurate, personalized glucose targets that align with individual health needs, lifestyle factors, and treatment goals. Glucose targets should avoid symptomatic hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in all individuals, while also considering the unique circumstances that make each person’s diabetes journey different. Understanding how to establish and maintain appropriate glucose targets is fundamental to preventing complications, improving quality of life, and empowering individuals to take control of their health.

What Are Glucose Targets and Why Do They Matter?

Glucose targets represent the blood sugar ranges that individuals with diabetes aim to maintain throughout the day to optimize their health outcomes. These targets are not arbitrary numbers but carefully determined ranges based on extensive clinical research demonstrating their correlation with reduced complications and improved long-term health. The recommendations include blood glucose levels that appear to correlate with achievement of an A1C of less than 7%, which has been established as a key threshold for many adults with diabetes.

Blood glucose targets typically encompass several measurement points throughout the day, including fasting levels (measured before eating in the morning), pre-meal levels (before lunch and dinner), and post-meal levels (usually measured one to two hours after eating). Each of these measurements provides valuable information about how well diabetes is being managed and whether treatment adjustments are needed.

The importance of maintaining glucose within target ranges cannot be overstated. When blood sugar levels remain consistently elevated above target ranges, the excess glucose in the bloodstream can damage blood vessels, nerves, and organs over time. This damage manifests as serious complications including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, vision problems, nerve damage, and poor wound healing. Conversely, when blood sugar drops too low (hypoglycemia), it can cause immediate symptoms ranging from shakiness and confusion to loss of consciousness and seizures in severe cases.

Standard Glucose Target Recommendations for Adults

Major diabetes organizations have established general glucose target recommendations that serve as starting points for most adults with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association recommends target preprandial capillary plasma glucose of 4.4–7.2 mmol/l (80–130 mg/dL), and peak postprandial capillary plasma glucose levels of less than 10.0 mmol/l (less than 180 mg/dL). These targets represent a balance between achieving good glycemic control and minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia.

Breaking down these recommendations further:

Fasting blood glucose: 80–130 mg/dL (4.4–7.2 mmol/L) measured upon waking before eating or drinking
Pre-meal blood glucose: 80–130 mg/dL (4.4–7.2 mmol/L) measured before lunch and dinner
Post-meal blood glucose: Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) measured one to two hours after beginning a meal
Bedtime blood glucose: 90–150 mg/dL (5.0–8.3 mmol/L) to reduce overnight hypoglycemia risk

For individuals seeking more stringent control, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends more stringent targets of less than 5.6 mmol/l (less than 110 mg/dL) for fasting plasma glucose and less than 7.8 mmol/l (less than 140 mg/dL) for postprandial glucose for people without serious comorbidities and no known risk of hypoglycemia. These tighter targets may be appropriate for certain individuals, particularly those who are younger, have recently been diagnosed, and have no complications.

Understanding HbA1c as a Long-Term Glucose Target

While daily blood glucose measurements provide snapshots of control at specific moments, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) offers a broader picture of glucose management over time. Hemoglobin A1C is a common measure of blood sugar control for diabetics, measured as a percentage of blood cells that carry extra glucose molecules. This test reflects average blood glucose levels over the previous two to three months, making it an invaluable tool for assessing overall diabetes management.

For years the American Diabetes Association recommended a standard goal of less than seven percent for most diabetics. This target of less than 7% (53 mmol/mol) remains the general recommendation for many adults with diabetes, as it has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of microvascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.

However, A1c targets are not one-size-fits-all. Some individuals may benefit from more stringent targets of 6.5% or lower, while others may have targets of 8% or higher depending on their individual circumstances. The relationship between A1c and average blood glucose is well established, with an A1c of 7% corresponding to an average blood glucose of approximately 154 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L).

The Shift Toward Personalized Glucose Targets

Modern diabetes care has evolved significantly from the traditional approach of applying uniform targets to all patients. In 2012, the ADA and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes published a statement recommending that physicians individualize blood sugar goals based on several factors, including age, life expectancy, complications and how long a patient has had diabetes. This paradigm shift recognizes that diabetes is a heterogeneous condition affecting diverse populations with varying needs, risks, and capabilities.

The personalization of glucose targets represents a more nuanced, patient-centered approach to diabetes management. Rather than striving for the same numerical goals regardless of individual circumstances, healthcare providers now work collaboratively with patients to establish targets that optimize health outcomes while minimizing treatment burden and risks. Individuals’ resources and support systems should be considered to safely achieve glycemic goals, acknowledging that successful diabetes management extends beyond clinical parameters to encompass practical, social, and psychological factors.

Research supports the value of this personalized approach. Setting blood sugar targets tailored to patient needs can save more than $13,500 over a lifetime, demonstrating that individualized care is not only clinically appropriate but also economically beneficial. Research shows that people who follow personalized goals often achieve better blood sugar control with fewer hypoglycemia episodes, highlighting the practical advantages of tailored target setting.

Key Factors Influencing Glucose Target Setting

Determining appropriate glucose targets requires careful consideration of multiple factors that influence both the benefits and risks of intensive glycemic control. Person and disease factors are used to determine optimal glycemic targets, with characteristics toward more stringent control balanced against those suggesting less stringent efforts.

Age and Life Expectancy

Age plays a crucial role in target setting because the benefits of intensive glucose control accrue over many years, while the risks of hypoglycemia can be immediate and severe. Younger individuals with diabetes typically have decades ahead during which complications can develop, making tighter control more beneficial. They also generally have better awareness of hypoglycemia symptoms and faster recovery from low blood sugar episodes.

For older adults, particularly those with limited life expectancy due to other health conditions, the calculus changes. In many cases, say for an elderly patient who has been living with diabetes for decades and has several complications, aggressive blood sugar control may not be appropriate, so they can set a higher A1C target of less than eight percent. The potential benefits of preventing complications that may take years to develop must be weighed against the immediate risks of hypoglycemia, which can cause falls, fractures, cognitive impairment, and cardiovascular events in older populations.

Older adults are classified as healthy (few coexisting chronic illnesses, intact cognitive and functional status), as having complex/intermediate health (multiple coexisting chronic illnesses, two or more instrumental impairments to activities of daily living, or mild to moderate cognitive impairment), or as having very complex/poor health (long-term care or end-stage chronic illnesses, moderate to severe cognitive impairment, or two or more impairments to activities of daily living). These classifications help guide appropriate target setting, with healthier older adults potentially maintaining targets similar to younger adults, while those with complex or poor health benefit from more relaxed targets.

Duration of Diabetes

The length of time someone has lived with diabetes significantly influences target setting. Studies demonstrated metabolic memory, or a legacy effect, in which a finite period of intensive control yielded benefits that extended for decades after that control ended. Thus, a finite period of intensive control to near-normal A1C may yield enduring benefits even if control is subsequently deintensified as patient characteristics change.

This legacy effect suggests that achieving excellent control early in the course of diabetes can provide lasting protection against complications. For newly diagnosed individuals, pursuing more aggressive targets may be particularly valuable. However, with longer disease duration, diabetes may become more difficult to control, with increasing risks and burdens of therapy, potentially warranting target adjustments over time.

Presence of Complications and Comorbidities

Existing diabetes complications and other health conditions substantially impact target setting decisions. Individuals who have already developed complications such as advanced kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, or severe neuropathy may not benefit as much from intensive control aimed at preventing complications that have already occurred. Additionally, certain complications can increase the risks associated with hypoglycemia.

Over time, comorbidities may emerge, decreasing life expectancy and thereby decreasing the potential to reap benefits from intensive control. Also, with longer disease duration, diabetes may become more difficult to control, with increasing risks and burdens of therapy. Conditions such as heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and cognitive impairment all influence the risk-benefit balance of glucose targets.

Hypoglycemia Risk and Awareness

The risk of hypoglycemia represents one of the most important limiting factors in setting glucose targets. In type 1 diabetes and severely insulin-deficient type 2 diabetes, hypoglycemia unawareness (or hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure) can severely compromise stringent diabetes control and quality of life. This syndrome is characterized by deficient counterregulatory hormone release, especially in older adults, and a diminished autonomic response, which are both risk factors for and caused by hypoglycemia.

Individuals with a history of severe hypoglycemia, impaired awareness of hypoglycemia symptoms, or conditions that increase vulnerability to low blood sugar require more conservative targets. Individuals with one or more episodes of clinically significant hypoglycemia may benefit from at least short-term relaxation of glycemic targets and availability of glucagon. The good news is that several weeks of avoidance of hypoglycemia has been demonstrated to improve counterregulation and hypoglycemia awareness in many people with diabetes, suggesting that temporary target relaxation can help restore protective responses.

Resources, Support Systems, and Treatment Capacity

Practical considerations including access to healthcare, diabetes education, monitoring supplies, medications, and social support significantly influence achievable targets. Intensive glucose management requires frequent monitoring, careful attention to diet and medication timing, and the ability to recognize and respond to blood sugar fluctuations. Individuals lacking adequate resources or support may be unable to safely pursue aggressive targets without increasing their risk of complications.

Financial constraints, health literacy, cognitive function, manual dexterity, vision, and living situation all affect the feasibility of different management strategies. The preferences and goals of people with diabetes should be incorporated through shared decision-making, ensuring that targets align with what individuals value and can realistically achieve within their life circumstances.

Special Considerations for Different Populations

Children and Adolescents

Pediatric diabetes management presents unique challenges and considerations for target setting. A new target for hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of ≤6.5% (48 mmol/mol) is recommended for those who have access to advanced diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery. In other settings, the HbA1c target is ≤7.0% (53 mmol/mol).

The rationale for potentially more stringent targets in youth relates to their long life expectancy and the cumulative nature of diabetes complications. However, these targets must be balanced against the developmental needs of children and adolescents, the challenges of managing diabetes during periods of rapid growth and hormonal changes, and the psychological burden of intensive management during formative years. The availability of advanced technologies has made safer achievement of lower targets possible for many young people.

Pregnant Women

Pregnancy represents a special situation requiring particularly tight glucose control to protect both maternal and fetal health. Women with pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes typically aim for more stringent targets than non-pregnant adults, with fasting glucose below 95 mg/dL and one-hour post-meal glucose below 140 mg/dL or two-hour post-meal glucose below 120 mg/dL. These tighter targets help reduce risks of congenital anomalies, macrosomia, preeclampsia, and other pregnancy complications.

Hospitalized Patients

Glucose targets for hospitalized individuals differ from outpatient targets due to the acute illness, stress hyperglycemia, and different risk-benefit considerations in the hospital setting. For noncritically ill individuals (those not in the ICU), a glycemic goal of 100–180 mg/dL (5.6-10.0 mmol/L) is recommended if it can be achieved without significant hypoglycemia. These targets balance the benefits of glucose control with the heightened risks of hypoglycemia in acutely ill patients who may have altered nutrition, changing medication regimens, and impaired counterregulatory responses.

The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Target Setting

Advances in diabetes technology have revolutionized how glucose targets are conceptualized and achieved. The importance of diabetes technology, with an emphasis on continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, has been increasingly recognized in recent guidelines. Continuous glucose monitoring provides real-time glucose data throughout the day and night, revealing patterns that traditional fingerstick testing cannot capture.

Time in range (TIR) is the amount of time a person with diabetes spends in a target glucose (sugar) range. For most, that’s between 70 and 180 mg/dL. This metric has emerged as an important complement to A1c, providing insight into glucose variability and the percentage of time spent within, above, and below target ranges. A time in range goal of greater than 70% is recommended for most adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, corresponding to an A1c of approximately 7%.

Research is ongoing, but studies so far are finding links between lower time in range and an increased risk of diabetes-related complications. Studies show that large glucose fluctuations (glycemic variability) may increase oxidative stress and inflammation. This emerging evidence suggests that not only average glucose levels but also glucose stability matters for long-term health outcomes.

CGM technology enables more nuanced target setting by revealing time in range, time above range, time below range, and glucose variability. These metrics provide a more complete picture than A1c alone, which can mask significant glucose fluctuations. For example, a person who has frequent blood sugar fluctuations between significantly low and high episodes may have an A1C of 7%. A person who has blood sugar levels that stay more consistently around 154 mg/dL may also have an A1C of 7%. The TIR between these two people would be different.

Balancing Fasting and Postprandial Glucose Targets

Comprehensive glucose management requires attention to both fasting and postprandial (after-meal) glucose levels, as each contributes differently to overall glycemic control. Both fasting (FPG) and postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) contribute to HbA1c levels, but their relative importance varies depending on the degree of glucose control.

PPG has been shown to be a main contributor to HbA1c levels in people with Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c levels less than 56 mmol/mol (less than 7.3%), whereas in people with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes, the importance of FPG increases, becoming the predominant contributing factor at HbA1c levels greater than 78 mmol/mol (greater than 9.3%). This finding has important implications for treatment strategies, suggesting that as glucose control improves, attention to postprandial glucose becomes increasingly important.

Postprandial glucose excursions are influenced by multiple factors including the composition and timing of meals, pre-meal glucose levels, insulin timing and dosing, physical activity, and stress. Managing postprandial glucose often requires attention to carbohydrate counting, meal timing, and the coordination of rapid-acting insulin with food intake. For individuals using non-insulin medications, choosing agents that specifically target postprandial glucose (such as GLP-1 receptor agonists or rapid-acting insulin secretagogues) may be beneficial.

Adjusting Targets Over Time

Glucose targets should not be static but rather should evolve as individual circumstances change. A1C targets should be reevaluated over time to balance the risks and benefits as patient factors change. Regular reassessment ensures that targets remain appropriate as people age, develop complications or comorbidities, experience changes in their support systems, or gain access to new treatments and technologies.

Life transitions such as retirement, changes in physical activity levels, development of new health conditions, or changes in cognitive function all warrant target reevaluation. Similarly, improvements in diabetes management—such as starting CGM, beginning new medications with lower hypoglycemia risk, or completing diabetes education—may enable safely pursuing more ambitious targets.

The concept of therapeutic inertia—the failure to intensify treatment when targets are not being met—represents an important challenge in diabetes care. However, it’s equally important to avoid overly aggressive treatment that increases hypoglycemia risk without corresponding benefits. The key is regular, thoughtful reassessment of whether current targets and treatments remain appropriate for each individual’s evolving situation.

Strategies for Achieving Glucose Targets

Setting appropriate targets is only the first step; achieving and maintaining those targets requires a comprehensive approach incorporating multiple strategies.

Self-Monitoring and Data Review

Regular glucose monitoring provides the feedback necessary to assess whether targets are being met and to make informed adjustments. The frequency and timing of monitoring should be individualized based on the type of diabetes, treatment regimen, and stability of control. Individuals using insulin typically require more frequent monitoring than those managed with lifestyle modifications alone or non-insulin medications.

Reviewing glucose data with healthcare providers enables pattern recognition and targeted interventions. Rather than focusing on individual glucose values in isolation, looking for patterns—such as consistently elevated morning glucose, post-lunch spikes, or overnight lows—allows for more effective problem-solving.

Medication Optimization

The 2025 guidelines emphasize greater usage of combination therapies, particularly in patients with early-stage T2DM, as opposed to the stepwise treatment strategy advocated in 2024. Modern diabetes pharmacotherapy offers numerous options with different mechanisms of action, side effect profiles, and impacts on weight and hypoglycemia risk. Selecting medications that align with individual targets, preferences, and comorbidities is essential.

For individuals with cardiovascular disease, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease, certain medication classes offer benefits beyond glucose lowering. GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated cardiovascular and renal protective effects, making them preferred choices for many individuals with type 2 diabetes and these comorbidities.

Lifestyle Modifications

Nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management all profoundly influence glucose levels and the ability to achieve targets. Diet plays a central role in managing blood sugar. Meals rich in fiber, vegetables, and protein support more stable blood sugar, while quick sugars and ultra-processed foods trigger spikes. Working with a registered dietitian who specializes in diabetes can help individuals develop sustainable eating patterns that support their glucose targets.

Regular physical activity improves insulin sensitivity and helps regulate blood sugar. Even moderate exercise, like daily walking, can have a significant effect on both blood sugar and cardiovascular health. The timing of physical activity relative to meals can be strategically used to help manage postprandial glucose excursions.

Diabetes Education and Support

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) provides individuals with the knowledge, skills, and ongoing support needed to successfully manage their condition. New emphasis on cultural sensitivity in diabetes self-management education, with considerations for changing reimbursement policies, reflects recognition that effective education must be tailored to individual cultural contexts, health literacy levels, and learning preferences.

Education topics should include glucose monitoring techniques, medication administration, carbohydrate counting, recognition and treatment of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia, sick day management, and strategies for integrating diabetes management into daily life. Ongoing support helps individuals maintain motivation, troubleshoot challenges, and adapt to changes over time.

Understanding and Preventing Hypoglycemia

While achieving glucose targets is important, avoiding hypoglycemia is equally critical. Because many people with diabetes demonstrate impaired counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia and/or experience hypoglycemia unawareness, a measured glucose level less than 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is considered clinically important (independent of the severity of acute hypoglycemic symptoms).

Level 2 hypoglycemia (defined as a blood glucose concentration less than 54 mg/dL [3.0 mmol/L]) is the threshold at which neuroglycopenic symptoms begin to occur and requires immediate action to resolve the hypoglycemic event. These episodes can cause confusion, difficulty concentrating, slurred speech, and in severe cases, loss of consciousness or seizures.

People with diabetes should understand situations that increase their risk of hypoglycemia, such as when fasting for laboratory tests or procedures, when meals are delayed, during and after the consumption of alcohol, during and after intense physical activity, and during sleep. Anticipating these high-risk situations and taking preventive measures—such as reducing insulin doses, consuming extra carbohydrates, or increasing monitoring frequency—can help prevent hypoglycemia.

Treatment of hypoglycemia requires rapid-acting carbohydrates. Pure glucose is the preferred treatment, but any form of carbohydrate that contains glucose will raise blood glucose. The “rule of 15” recommends consuming 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, waiting 15 minutes, rechecking glucose, and repeating if still below 70 mg/dL. Once glucose returns to normal, eating a meal or snack containing protein and complex carbohydrates helps prevent recurrence.

The Importance of Shared Decision-Making

Perhaps the most important principle in setting glucose targets is that decisions should be made collaboratively between individuals with diabetes and their healthcare teams. The preferences and goals of people with diabetes should be incorporated through shared decision-making, recognizing that individuals are the experts on their own lives, values, and priorities.

Shared decision-making involves healthcare providers presenting evidence-based recommendations while eliciting and incorporating patient preferences, concerns, and goals. This process acknowledges that there may be multiple reasonable approaches to target setting, and the “best” choice depends on individual circumstances and values. Some individuals may prioritize minimizing their risk of long-term complications even if it requires intensive management, while others may place greater value on quality of life and freedom from treatment burden.

Effective shared decision-making requires clear communication about the potential benefits and risks of different target ranges, realistic discussion of what achieving various targets would require in terms of monitoring, medication, and lifestyle modifications, and ongoing dialogue as circumstances and preferences evolve. This collaborative approach enhances treatment adherence, satisfaction with care, and ultimately health outcomes.

Emerging Research and Future Directions

The field of diabetes management continues to evolve rapidly, with ongoing research refining our understanding of optimal glucose targets and how to achieve them. Study findings suggest that this variability in blood sugar response could lead to personalized prevention and treatment strategies for prediabetes and diabetes, pointing toward an increasingly individualized approach based on metabolic phenotyping.

The American Diabetes Association dietary guidelines do not work that well because they lump everyone together. This study suggests that not only are there subtypes within prediabetes, but also that your subtype could determine the foods you should and should not eat. This research highlights the potential for precision medicine approaches that tailor dietary recommendations and glucose targets based on individual metabolic responses.

Advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling more sophisticated analysis of glucose patterns and prediction of future glucose trends. Automated insulin delivery systems that adjust insulin delivery in real-time based on CGM data are making safer achievement of tighter targets possible for many individuals with type 1 diabetes. As these technologies become more widely available and affordable, they may enable more people to safely pursue ambitious glucose targets.

Research into the optimal balance between time in range, time below range, and glucose variability continues to refine our understanding of what constitutes good glucose control beyond A1c alone. Future guidelines will likely place increasing emphasis on these CGM-derived metrics alongside traditional measures.

Overcoming Barriers to Achieving Glucose Targets

Despite clear evidence supporting the benefits of achieving glucose targets, many individuals with diabetes struggle to reach their goals. Understanding and addressing common barriers is essential for improving outcomes.

Access to Care and Resources

Financial barriers including medication costs, monitoring supply expenses, and lack of insurance coverage prevent many people from accessing the tools needed to achieve their targets. Healthcare system barriers such as limited appointment availability, lack of diabetes specialists, and inadequate time during visits also impede optimal management. Addressing these structural barriers requires policy changes, improved insurance coverage, and innovative care delivery models.

More detail and emphasis on psychosocial screening protocols to better identify diabetes distress reflects growing recognition that emotional and psychological factors significantly impact diabetes management. Depression, anxiety, diabetes distress, and burnout are common among people with diabetes and can substantially interfere with self-care behaviors and glucose control.

Social determinants of health including food insecurity, housing instability, lack of safe spaces for physical activity, and limited social support also affect the ability to achieve glucose targets. Comprehensive diabetes care must address these broader contextual factors, not just clinical parameters.

Health Literacy and Education Gaps

Understanding diabetes and its management requires substantial health literacy. Many individuals lack clear understanding of what their glucose targets mean, why they matter, or how to achieve them. Providing education in accessible formats, using teach-back methods to confirm understanding, and offering culturally appropriate materials can help bridge these gaps.

Practical Tips for Working with Your Healthcare Team

Successfully establishing and achieving appropriate glucose targets requires effective partnership with healthcare providers. Here are strategies to make the most of this collaboration:

Come prepared: Bring glucose logs, CGM reports, or downloaded meter data to appointments. Note patterns you’ve observed and questions you have.
Be honest: Share challenges you’re experiencing with your current regimen, including medication side effects, difficulty affording supplies, or struggles with adherence.
Ask questions: If you don’t understand why certain targets are recommended or how to achieve them, ask for clarification. Request written information or resources for further learning.
Discuss your priorities: Share what matters most to you—whether that’s preventing complications, avoiding hypoglycemia, minimizing treatment burden, or other goals.
Request regular reviews: Ask for periodic reassessment of your targets to ensure they remain appropriate as your circumstances change.
Seek additional support: Request referrals to diabetes educators, dietitians, mental health professionals, or other specialists when needed.

Monitoring Progress and Celebrating Success

Achieving glucose targets is a journey that requires sustained effort, and recognizing progress along the way helps maintain motivation. Rather than focusing solely on whether targets are perfectly met, acknowledge improvements in time in range, reductions in glucose variability, fewer hypoglycemic episodes, or better understanding of how different factors affect your glucose levels.

Keep in mind that glucose management is not about perfection but about making consistent efforts that accumulate over time to reduce complication risk and improve quality of life. Some days will be more challenging than others, and that’s normal. What matters is the overall pattern and trend rather than any single glucose reading.

Regular A1c testing, typically every three to six months, provides objective feedback on overall glucose control. Your provider will also check your blood glucose with a blood test called an A1C. It checks your average blood glucose level over the past three months. Reviewing these results with your healthcare team offers opportunities to celebrate successes, identify areas for improvement, and adjust strategies as needed.

Conclusion: A Personalized Path Forward

Setting accurate glucose targets represents a cornerstone of effective diabetes management, but there is no universal “right” target that applies to everyone. The optimal targets for any individual depend on a complex interplay of medical, personal, and practical factors that must be carefully weighed and regularly reassessed. Your blood sugar targets may be different depending on your age, any additional health problems you have, and other factors. Talk to your health care team about which targets are best for you.

The evolution from one-size-fits-all targets to personalized, patient-centered goal setting represents significant progress in diabetes care. This approach recognizes the heterogeneity of diabetes, respects individual circumstances and preferences, and balances the benefits of glucose control against the risks and burdens of intensive management. By working collaboratively with healthcare teams, leveraging available technologies, addressing barriers to care, and maintaining focus on what matters most to each individual, people with diabetes can establish and achieve targets that optimize their health and quality of life.

As research continues to advance our understanding of diabetes and new treatments and technologies emerge, the approach to glucose target setting will continue to evolve. Staying informed about current recommendations, maintaining open communication with healthcare providers, and remaining flexible as circumstances change will help ensure that glucose targets remain appropriate and achievable throughout the diabetes journey.

For more information about diabetes management and glucose targets, visit the American Diabetes Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Diabetes Resources, or consult with your healthcare team about establishing targets that are right for you.

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