1. Why is Post-Meal Blood Sugar Management Important?
In the past, managing fasting blood sugar was considered more important, but recently, the importance of ‘post-meal blood sugar’ management in preventing long-term complications has been emphasized. This is because ‘blood sugar spikes,’ where blood sugar rises sharply after a meal and then falls, cause oxidative stress on the inner lining of blood vessels, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis.
2. General Blood Sugar Control Targets
The general blood sugar control targets recommended by the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for most adult patients with diabetes are as follows:
– Fasting Blood Sugar (Before a meal): 80 to 130 mg/dL
– 2-Hour Post-Meal Blood Sugar: Below 180 mg/dL
These figures are the target ranges that can minimize the risk of complications and serve as a benchmark for long-term blood sugar management.
3. Personalized Goal Setting
These target values are general recommendations and are not applied uniformly to all patients.
– Stricter Goals: Younger, healthier patients with a low risk of hypoglycemia may set a lower target (e.g., below 160 mg/dL post-meal) for better complication prevention.
– More Lenient Goals: In the case of elderly patients or those with severe comorbidities, the target may be set higher (e.g., below 200 mg/dL post-meal) in consultation with a doctor to avoid the risk of hypoglycemia.
Summary: For successful diabetes management, post-meal blood sugar is just as important as fasting blood sugar. The recommended 2-hour post-meal blood sugar target for most patients is below 180 mg/dL, and diet, exercise, and medication should be adjusted to achieve this goal.
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