Blood sugar (glucose) targets for older people with diabetes tend to be different than for younger people.
Two hours after eating, your blood sugar should be less than 140 mg/dL.
This is called your postprandial blood glucose level.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Both high and low blood sugar are concerns for older adults.
Low blood sugar is also a concern.
Monitoring Blood Sugar
Blood sugar is commonly checked with a rig called aglucometer.
You may prick a fingertip with a small needle called a lancet.
Then you place a drop of blood on atest stripin the glucometer to get a blood sugar reading.
Generally, blood sugar should be checked before meals and at bedtime.
Your healthcare provider may want you to check more or less often.
Some people use continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) instead.
A CGM machine tracks glucose in real time using a small sensor placed under the skin.
A1C testing for diabetes is recommended as early as age 35.
To determine whether your blood sugar is on target, your healthcare provider will monitor multiple readings.
That can happen even if someone has successfully managed their blood sugar for years.
Thetwo conditionsoccur for different reasons and are treated differently as well.
Diet and Blood Sugar
Diet is important for managing diabetes.
Maintaining a healthy diet can be a challenge for some older people.
Older adults may need to add medical nutrition therapy to theirdiabetes treatment plan.
That’s when a registered dietitian creates a nutrition plan tailored to your needs.
Your target may be higher if you have other chronic conditions.
Diabetes is managed through diet and medications.
They also may evaluate your need for support if cognitive decline is a part of your overall health history.
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