What is an acceptable range for glucose testing?

[fairlyordinaryguy]

No one has told me before, but just what is the ideal or acceptable range for my glucose levels?

 

[ert]

The recommended NICE guidelines for type 1 is to have an HbA1c of 6.5% or lower. Also a fasting plasma glucose level of 5 to 7 mmol/litre on waking and a plasma glucose level of 4 to 7 mmol/litre before meals at other times of the day. You expect to spike your blood sugar after eating as injected insulin dose not match the food you are eating. As long as you come back to pre-meal levels 4-5 hours later, your dose was correct.
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/Recommendations

 

[In Response]

@ert you are quoting an old version of that NICE guideline. The UK does not measure HbA1c in %.
However, the link you provide is to an updated article (note it states that an individual target should be agreed which takes into account their lifestyle):

1.6.6 Support adults with type 1 diabetes to aim for a target HbA1c level of 48 mmol/mol (6.5%) or lower, to minimise the risk of long-term vascular complications. [2015]

1.6.7 Agree an individualised HbA1c target with each adult with type 1 diabetes. Take into account factors such as their daily activities, aspirations, likelihood of complications, comorbidities, occupation and history of hypoglycaemia. [2015]

1.6.8 Ensure that aiming for an HbA1c target is not accompanied by problematic hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 diabetes. [2015]

1.6.9 Diabetes services should document the proportion of adults with type 1 diabetes who reach an HbA1c level of 53 mmol/mol (7%) or lower.
​

And regarding blood glucose targets:

1.6.22Advise adults with type 1 diabetes to aim for:

a fasting plasma glucose level of 5 to 7 mmol/litre on waking and

a plasma glucose level of 4 to 7 mmol/litre before meals at other times of the day. [2015]

1.6.23Advise adults with type 1 diabetes who choose to measure after meals to aim for a plasma glucose level of 5 to 9 mmol/litre at least 90 minutes after eating. (This timing may be different in pregnancy – for guidance on plasma glucose targets in pregnancy, see NICE's guideline on diabetes in pregnancy.) [2015]

1.6.24Agree bedtime target plasma glucose levels with each adult with type 1 diabetes. Take into account the timing of their last meal of the day and the related insulin dose, and ensure the target is consistent with the recommended fasting level on waking (see recommendation 1.6.22). [2015]​

 

[Mrs HJG]

@ert you are quoting an old version of that NICE guideline. The UK does not measure HbA1c in %.

My HbA1c results have shown the % and mmol/mol. I am in the UK.

 

[ert]

My HbA1c results have shown the % and mmol/mol. I am in the UK.

My HbA1c I received today with various other blood tests was a % too.

 

[StewM]

Is Time in Range mentioned in the NICE guidelines to? My Team seem much more concerned with that than anything else.

 

[In Response]

Is Time in Range mentioned in the NICE guidelines to? My Team seem much more concerned with that than anything else.

I believe so. The link is provided above to check