Blood Sugar Info for

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GREETINGS --

The following is an excerpt from the book " Understanding Diabetes " by

Dr. H. Chase which is available through the Barabara

Center for Childhood Diabetes at the University of Colorado Health

Sciences Center. The excerpt will give you some insight in response

to many of your questions about blood sugar levels. You might want

to get a copy of the book (which is designed to help families cope)

to help you learn more about Diabetes.

wambo1941

Q: What is the best range for my blood sugars?

A: This is not an easy question to answer. It depends on the

individual person and family as well as the age of the person with

diabetes. Most textbooks list a normal fasting level (or when no food

is taken for two or more hours) as 70-120 mg/dl (3.9-6.6 mmol/L). It

is unrealistic for most people with diabetes to aim for normal non-

diabetic sugar levels.

Understanding Diabetes (the Pink Panther book) suggests fasting level

ranges by ages:

Under five years old: 80-200 mg/dl (4.5-11.1 mmol/L)

5-11 years old: 70-180 mg/dl (3.9-10.0 mmol/L)

12 years old and above: 70-150 mg/dl (3.9-8.3 mmol/L)

However, these are " generally suggested ranges " for fasting or if

there is no food intake for at least two hours, and they do not take

individuals or families into account. For example, a 10 to 11-year-

old who does blood sugar testing regularly so that the chances of

unrecognized low blood sugars occurring are unlikely, and who does

not have severe insulin reactions (e.g., unconscious episodes), can

probably safely aim for a level of 70-150 mg/dl (3.9-8.3 mmol/L). The

reason for aiming for the lower level would be so that the

glycohemoglobin (HbA1c) levels may be lower with a reduced long-term

likelihood of complications.

On the other hand, an adult who has severe episodes of unrecognized

hypoglycemia might be wiser to try to achieve the middle range of 70-

180 mg/dl (3.9-10.0 mmol/L). This might help to reduce the severe

insulin reactions.