Blood sugar readings: Here’s what those numbers really mean for people with type 1 diabetes

To better understand how to interpret these readings and what steps can help maintain a healthy glucose balance, we spoke with an expert.

What are the ideal blood sugar ranges for people with type 1 diabetes throughout the day?

Kanikka Malhotra, certified diabetes educator at Health Pepper, tells indianexpress.com, “For people with type 1 diabetes, the ideal pre-meal blood sugar is typically 80-130 mg/dL, rising no higher than 180 mg/dL two hours post-meal, and around 100-140 mg/dL at bedtime.”

She adds that these targets differ from those without diabetes because insulin replacement isn’t as finely tuned as the body’s natural insulin response. “Maintaining slightly higher bedtime levels helps prevent nighttime hypoglycemia, while post-meal targets minimise long-term complications. Regular tracking helps strike a balance between safety and strict control.”

When blood sugar levels fluctuate too quickly, what are the most common triggers people overlook?

According to Malhotra, sudden swings in blood sugar are often a result of daily habits that seem minor but have a big impact. She says, “Skipping meals or eating late, common in Indian routines, means insulin does not match food intake, causing dangerous highs or lows. Inaccurate carbohydrate counting, especially with mixed Indian foods, can lead to under- or overdosing on insulin. Most people consistently misestimate carbs by around 20%, and this error directly leads to blood sugar fluctuations.”

Stress and poor sleep, both widespread, raise cortisol, making blood sugar harder to control. Malhotra explains, “India’s hot climate also increases dehydration risk, which can concentrate blood sugars and reduce insulin absorption. Additionally, insulin stored or injected in high temperatures may lose its effect.”

Simple lifestyle tweaks: pair carbs with dal, curd, or nuts for slower sugar release; drink water regularly; check that insulin is cool and protected from heat; and use stress-reduction routines, to help minimise fluctuations. Refresher education for accurate carb counting and regular tracking of patterns also keeps daily glucose more stable.

How can someone effectively use data from a continuous glucose monitor or glucometer to identify trends?

“One can make CGM or glucometer data actionable by charting readings with meal details, noting exercise and stress, and spotting recurring high/low patterns, like post-rice meal spikes or pre-dawn dips. Discussions with your diabetes care team on this real-world data enable safe insulin adjustments and empower better day-to-day decisions,” concludes the expert.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.