What are typical fasting and postprandial glucose targets for nonpregnant adults with diabetes?

• A. Fasting 90-120; postprandial <140.
• B. Fasting 100-140; postprandial <200.
• C. Fasting 70-110; postprandial <150.
• D. Fasting 80-130 mg/dL; postprandial <180 mg/dL.

Answer: (D)

Managing glucose in nonpregnant adults with diabetes aims to keep fasting levels modest and post-meal spikes controlled to reduce complications without causing hypoglycemia. The typical targets used in many guidelines are fasting (before meals) 80-130 mg/dL and postprandial (about 1-2 hours after starting a meal) less than 180 mg/dL. These numbers reflect a balance: staying under 130 before meals lowers the baseline glucose exposure, while keeping post-meal spikes under 180 minimizes excursions that contribute to overall A1C and vascular risk, yet remain achievable for many patients with careful therapy and lifestyle. Some populations may have individualized targets based on hypoglycemia risk, comorbidities, or age, but these values provide a common general target for nonpregnant adults.