Your recent diabetes update was concise and informative ("Managing Diabetes with 'Agent Oral,'" and "Unlock the Mysteries of Insulin Therapy," March 2004). But your readers should know that the recommended blood glucose targets you published are from the American Diabetes Association. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends tighter control:

* preprandial (fasting) blood glucose, less than 110 mg/dl

* postprandial (2 hour) blood glucose, less than 140 mg/dl

* hemoglobin A1C, less than 6.5%.

This organization's protocols can be found at http://www.aace.com/clin/guidelines/diabetes_2002.pdf

THERESA A. MCKENNA, RN, CDE, PHD

Port Jefferson, N.Y.