Blood Glucose Goals in the Hospital

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following targets for blood glucose levels in the hospital:

• The majority of the time, a blood glucose target range of 140 to 180 mg/dl is recommended for both critically and noncritically ill patients.
• Tighter blood glucose goals such as 100 to 140 mg/dl may be appropriate in some cases — particularly if this can be achieved without significant hypoglycemia.

Guidelines for blood glucose control may vary slightly from one hospital to another. What’s important is that the hospital you choose have clear guidelines in place to manage your diabetes safely and effectively. Your health care provider and/or diabetes educator can be helpful resources in determining what to expect in terms of diabetes care should you require care in a hospital setting.

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