Question

Before meals, it is recommended that the blood glucose level for a diabetic patient be ______ mg/dL.

1) 60 to 80
2) 80 to 100
3) 100 to 120
4) 120 to 140

Answer 1

Before meals, the blood glucose level for a diabetic patient is recommended to be between 80 and 130 mg/dL. Individual targets may vary and should be personalized with the help of a healthcare provider.

Step-by-step explanation:

The recommended pre-meal blood glucose level for a diabetic patient is ideally between 80 and 130 mg/dL. However, to maintain tighter control and reduce the risk of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, many experts suggest that a blood glucose level before meals should be in the range of 80 to 130 mg/dL (4.4 to 7.2 mmol/L). This range helps to ensure that the blood glucose does not drop too low before food intake, which could result in hypoglycemia, or spike too high after eating, which can exacerbate hyperglycemia.

It's important to note that individual targets can vary depending on a variety of factors including age, duration of diabetes, comorbid conditions, and the risk of hypoglycemia. Therefore, patients should work closely with their healthcare provider to determine their specific goal. Regular monitoring and adjustments to food intake, insulin doses, and physical activity are necessary to maintain blood glucose levels within the recommended range.