Postprandial

Postprandial: Postprandial means "after eating." In diabetes care, "postprandial glucose" usually refers to a blood sugar reading taken one to two hours after the start of a meal — the window when food has the largest effect on glucose.

Targets

The American Diabetes Association suggests a peak post-meal glucose under 180 mg/dL for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes. Tighter targets (under 140 mg/dL) apply during pregnancy.

Why the 1–2 hour window

Most people peak between 60 and 90 minutes after starting a meal. Insulin (or pancreatic insulin response) typically catches up by 2–3 hours. CGM data has confirmed this window is where the largest signal lives.

Connection to carb counting

Postprandial glucose is the feedback signal for accurate carb counting. If your post-meal numbers consistently overshoot, the carb count was probably low — or the timing of insulin was off.