Do you have a blood glucose target? Mine is 100. I can’t even tell you how long my BG target has been 100, but it’s been a while. I wrote a while back about the Quest for 117 and that’s fun too, but when my blood glucose meter reads “100” it’s a bullseye! The purpose of having a target is to get in that range most of the time. We all know hitting one particular number all the time is not possible when your body is not functioning at full capacity.
I often work with patients who are setting blood glucose targets. I think it’s very important that it’s your target and not mine (or anyone else’s). This is slightly different if you’re the parent of a young child with diabetes. In that case, it’s the parents’ target until the child is old enough to set their own.
One thing to keep in mind when you set your target is that sometimes you might overshoot it (if you take insulin or other blood glucose lowering medications). It’s equally important not to spend too much time in the low (hypoglycemic) zone as it is to avoid high blood glucose (hyperglycemia). While high blood glucose over time can lead to diabetes complications, low blood glucose forces us to eat additional calories and can be dangerous. So be sure to choose a blood glucose target or a target range that gives you a buffer for safety.
If you manage your diabetes with meal planning, exercise and/or medications that don’t cause low blood glucose, you still can aim for a target. You can adjust your eating and exercise habits (and work with your health care provider to adjust medication doses) to reach your target blood glucose.
What is your target and why did you choose it?