Aims/hypothesis <p>This study aimed to compare the ability of time in tight range (TITR) and time in range (TIR) to predict the achievement of typical glucose management indicator (GMI) and HbA_1c targets.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional analysis included 773 adults with diabetes receiving insulin therapy who visited Samsung Medical Center between June 2019 and December 2023 and wore a Dexcom G6 or FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor for at least 90 days (sensor wear time, ≥70%). A receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to compare the ability of TITR and TIR to predict GMI and HbA_1c targets.</p> Results <p>TITR had significantly greater AUC values than TIR for predicting GMIs of &lt;53 mmol/mol (7.0%) and &lt;48 mmol/mol (6.5%) among participants using a Dexcom G6 or FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitor. TITR also had significantly greater AUC values than TIR for predicting HbA_1c levels of &lt;53 mmol/mol (7.0%) (95% CI for difference: 0.006, 0.03) and &lt;48 mmol/mol (6.5%) (95% CI for difference: 0.001, 0.03) among participants using the FreeStyle Libre. In the HbA_1c range of 48–53 mmol/mol (6.5–7.0%), TIR exhibited broader variations than TITR across CV groups. The modifying effect of CV on the association between TITR and GMI or HbA_1c was minimised around a GMI and HbA_1c level of 53 mmol/mol (7.0%).</p> Conclusions/interpretation <p>TITR might be a more useful indicator than TIR of the achievement of typical GMI and HbA_1c targets among adults with diabetes on insulin therapy.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>