Confused by diabetes numbers????

My husband was just diagnosed with diabetes.  Dr said his sugar numbers were 7.1 with 6 being borderline.  A prescription for diabanese was called in  but no guidelines for eating were given and the dummy didn't ask!     
 I am confused by the 7.1 number.     I am familiar with numbers like under 100 is ok and 150 in maybe insulin time with my mom anyway
 can someone explain the new number to me? 
we are both familiar with basic diabetic diets and will be watching for the hidden sugars as he has cut a lot of sugar from his diet.

7.1 would be his A1C.  Can't remember what it stands for, but it is the average of the last 3 month's readings.  I think they now have a meter available that you can check it yourself at home, like your regular glucose monitor.

When my DH was diagnosed with Type II diabetes 10 years ago, his A1C was 9!!  Also, at that time, a good glucose fasting reading in the AM was 140.  NOW the guidelines say his AM fasting should be under 120.

With his medications adjusted correctly his A1C is now usually 6.5 and his AM readings under the 120.  When he began uroxatrol 1 month ago, his glucose number skyrocketed!!  That is NOT listed as a side effect of that medication!

My DH has a much larger change in his numbers with carbohydrate intake than with sugar intake.  Now that he is banded, and losing weight, we hope his need for medication goes way down.

Thank you  that helps.  I think its time I do some more selfeducating.  My folks didnt develop the problem till in their 80s and the numbers I understand you also mentioned so I now  understand better.  My follks being old folks probably did better with the old school numbers!!!  

I'm diabetic.  His A1C number should be under 7.  7.1 isn't so bad really.  I know people who have numbers much higher and mine has been as high as 11.7 back when I had totally lost control.  They would like us diabetics to be under 6. 

An A1C of 7.1 isn't really that bad. Endocrinologists like for them to be a 6 but they are sticklers on things like that since that is what they do all the time. My A1C is 5.2 and my Endocrinologist told me (when I was going to him that is) that I am a poster child for them.