Not sure that people in the US have the “luxury” of lowered targets with many having no health insurance, health insurance that covers little of the expense & soaring unemployment. Your medical care is dependent on what the government deems. In the US it’s insurance companies making profit. Under either system, people often don’t receive what they need. There are many discussions from US members who can’t afford meds & doctors, along with numerous stories of substandard care.
It’s problematic to tell people that 7% is acceptable when lower is attainable & is realistic & in their best welfare. Having lowered standards is a disservice & gatekeeping of critical information that effects well-being. The closer an A1c is to normal, non-diabetic ranges, the better. No, we can’t be normal, but striving for good control is the goal. Why shouldn’t people be motivated to do what’s in their welfare? Why should they settle for good enough, particularly when they’re not being given incorrect info? People should be given the facts to decide for themselves.
Unfortunate that the UK standard is a goal of less 7.5% when the IDF recommends below 6.5%, as Melissa wrote.