International consensus targets for most adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are simple to remember: time in range (70 to 180 mg/dL) above 70%, time below 70 mg/dL under 4%, and time below 54 mg/dL under 1%. For older or high-risk adults the targets relax to time in range above 50% and time below 70 mg/dL under 1%.
Read the report in a fixed order. First check sensor wear: at least 70% of 14 days is needed for the numbers to mean anything. Then look at hypoglycaemia before hyperglycaemia, because lows change management fastest. Then scan the daily profile for the time of day the problem clusters, which usually points to a meal, a missed dose or an overnight basal issue.
Each 10% rise in time in range corresponds to roughly a 0.5 to 0.8 point fall in HbA1c, which helps when explaining progress to a patient.
- Check sensor wear first: under 70% of 14 days makes the report unreliable
- Address time below 70 mg/dL before chasing high readings
- Aim for time in range above 70% in most adults, above 50% in frail older adults
- Look at the daily profile to find when in the day glucose goes wrong
Why it matters
As CGM spreads to people not on insulin, every clinician prescribing glucose-lowering drugs will be handed these reports.
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