There are many numbers to keep in mind when we help people with diabetes manage their condition. Some are diagnosis criteria, others are therapeutic targets, and still others are related to specific treatments. Although these numbers may seem random or arbitrary to some of our patients, they are evidence based and derived from data related to diabetes pathophysiology and the prevention of complications. This article is part of a series explaining some of the key numbers related to diabetes management and summarizing the evidence underpinning them.
The first three articles in this series (1–3) focused on A1C-related numbers discussed in the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA’s) Standards of Care in Diabetes—2024. Starting with this installment, we will look at plasma glucose values and their significance and supporting evidence. Serum glucose numbers will be divided into three groups: fasting plasma glucose (FBG) or preprandial plasma glucose, postprandial plasma glucose...
