CHAPTER 20 · TECH & MONITORING

BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL TARGETS

What healthy target levels look like, and what HbA1c actually tells you.

Blood sugar can be checked in different ways. Some tests show your current levels, others show how well your blood sugar has been managed over the past few months. The better you manage your daily levels, the better your long-term blood sugar results will be.

Maria Ditter, MD (Dr. med.), MPH · Reviewed June 2026 · Editorial standards

How blood sugar is tracked

Two ways to look at it, right now, and the bigger picture.

🩸 HbA1c

Shows average blood sugar levels over the past few months.
Usually checked every 3 months.

Target values:

6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or lower if you wear a CGM, or use a pump that adjusts your insulin on its own, and can reach that safely
7% (53 mmol/mol) or lower if you go by finger-prick checks and a regular insulin routine, without those devices
HbA1c can also read differently from one person to the next, depending on ethnic background and on some medical conditions, so go by the target your team sets with you

📊 Plasma glucose (blood sugar) levels

In type 1 diabetes: measured about 6 times per day, including before every meal.
In type 2 diabetes: depends on your medication, people on insulin check daily, while those on other medications may only need HbA1c follow-ups.

🧪 Ways to check

Finger prick and glucose meter
CGM system

For more on each, see Chapter 18: Finger Prick & CGM.

Targets are personal

Why your numbers may look different from someone else’s.

👤 What targets depend on

Age
How long you’ve had diabetes
Access to diabetes technology (like an insulin pump)
Other health and mental health conditions
Changes in daily routine (e.g., travel)
Physical activity

General target ranges

A rough guide, your medical team sets the right numbers for you.

⚠️ Rough guide, please discuss with your medical team

Before a meal: 70–144 mg/dL (4–8 mmol/L)
After a meal: 70–180 mg/dL (4–10 mmol/L)
At bedtime: 70–144 mg/dL (4–8 mmol/L)

Before you go, this chapter is for general information and isn’t medical advice. Your medical team knows you best, so always check with them about your own targets, treatment, and any changes to your routine.