Good Control

What is “Good Control”?

The goal in living with diabetes is to keep your blood glucose level as close to normal as possible, as often as possible. That means maintaining a healthy glucose average - and also preventing glucose swings that are too high or too low. Keeping in “good control” helps you feel better and reduces the risk of developing diabetes-related complications. “Poor control,” on the other hand, means falling far outside the healthy range for blood glucose. Poor control affects your health in the present, and puts you at higher risk for the long-term complications of diabetes, such as heart disease, eye, kidney and nerve diseases and even death.

The exact glucose target level can vary by person. A person without diabetes generally has an average blood glucose level of around 100 mg/dL. Good control for a person with diabetes before a meal is 90-130 mg/dL. But a number of circumstances can affect your ability to hit even that average. Your physician will give you guidance as to what average would define “good control” for you.

All people with type 1 must inject insulin to survive. Most people with type 2 need diabetes medications, and sometimes insulin injections, to help control their blood glucose level. All people with diabetes benefit from healthy eating and physical activity.