The nurse practitioner diagnosed a 9-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The glycemic target for this child should be:

Rationale: A. HbA1c <6.5% may be too stringent for young children, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia. B. HbA1c <7.0% is often targeted for adolescents and adults but may be less safe for younger children. C. HbA1c <7.5% is the recommended glycemic target for children aged 6–12 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus, balancing optimal glucose control with minimizing hypoglycemia risk. D. HbA1c <8.0% may be acceptable in certain circumstances (e.g., recurrent severe hypoglycemia) but is less optimal for long-term glycemic management.