Figure 18 illustrates the American Diabetes Association guideline goals for glucose, blood pressure, and lipid control.[4] The goal for HbA_1C is <7.0%, but with individualization emphasized, as outlined in Figure 7. Preprandial glucose levels should be kept between 70 and 130 mg/dL and postprandial glucose below 180 mg/dL. Blood pressure levels in patients with T2DM have recently been relaxed, to 140/80 mmHg, slightly higher than the previous goal of 130/80 mg/dL, but the goal should still be to keep blood pressure as low as patient compliance allows.

The lipid guidelines for patients with T2DM are now well known: keep LDL-cholesterol at <100 mg/dL and at <70 mg/dL in patients with overt cardiovascular disease. There is a gender difference with HDL cholesterol: >40 mg/dL in men and >50 mg/dL in women. Finally, triglyceride levels should be <150 mg/dL for both genders with diabetes. Kapustin J. J Nurse Pract. 2014; 00:00 – 00.