Your blood glucose (sugar) levels are a critical part of your overall health and your body’s ability to function properly.
For those of us with diabetes, striving to achieve “normal” blood sugar levels is a constant, hour-by-hour pursuit. And it isn’t easy.
In this article, we’ll look at normal blood sugar levels and goal ranges for people without diabetes and recommended blood sugar goals for people with prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.
Table of Contents
- Normal blood sugar ranges in people without diabetes (chart)
- Recommended blood sugar ranges in people with diabetes (chart)
- How do you know what your blood glucose level is?
- Diagnosing prediabetes, type 1, and type 2 diabetes
- Your A1c and blood sugar goals
- Your blood sugar isn’t just because of what you eat
- Final thoughts: Still frustrated with your blood sugar and A1c results?
Normal blood sugar ranges in people without diabetes (chart)
For a person without any type of diabetes, blood sugar levels are generally between 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) fasting and under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) after a meal.
Here are the normal blood sugar ranges for a person without diabetes according to the NIH:
Fasting Blood Sugar (e.g., In the Morning Before Eating) | Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) |
1 to 2 Hours After a Meal | Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) |
2 to 3 Hours After a Meal | Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) |
Recommended blood sugar ranges in people with diabetes (chart)
Here are the generally recommended blood sugar ranges for a person with diabetes according to the ADA:
Fasting Blood Sugar (e.g., In the Morning Before Eating) | 80 to 130 mg/dL (4.4 to 7.2 mmol/L) |
1 to 2 Hours After a Meal | Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) |
Learn more about fasting and after-meal blood sugar levels in: Blood Sugar Chart: Blood Sugar and A1c Targets.
How do you know what your blood glucose level is?
Unless it’s fairly high or low, you generally can’t feel what your blood sugar level is. And in fact, you may not even be able to tell from physical symptoms when it is high or low.
The best way to know your blood sugar level is to either check it with a traditional glucose meter or use a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) device.
For a glucose meter, you do a finger-stick with a lancet, put a drop of blood onto a test strip, and then insert the strip into the meter for a reading. With a CGM, readings are taken from the interstitial fluid (the fluid between the cells) about every 5 minutes via a sensor inserted just under the skin.
Diagnosing prediabetes, type 1, and type 2 diabetes
The following are tests that may be used by your healthcare provider to determine if you have diabetes:
Tests used to diagnose diabetes
Fasting plasma glucose test
This test measures your glucose level at a single point in time, typically after you have been fasting (nothing to eat or drink except water) for at least 8 hours.
Random glucose test
This test measures your glucose level at a single point in time and may be given at any time, whether you have fasted or not.
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
For this test, you will have a blood sample taken after fasting for at least 8 hours. Next, you will drink a liquid high in sugar and will have another blood sample taken after 2 hours to see how your blood glucose levels have changed.
(In those who are pregnant, glucose will be checked every hour for 2 to 3 hours to test for gestational diabetes.)
A1c test
This blood test reflects your average glucose levels over the previous 2 to 3 months. You can eat and drink prior to having an A1c test.
A repeat of these tests is typically required to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.
Test results for diagnosing diabetes (chart)
The following blood sugar and A1c results (a measure of glucose control over the previous 2 to 3 months) are used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes, according to the ADA:
A1c | Fasting Glucose | 2 Hours After a Meal | |
Prediabetes | 5.7 to 6.4 percent | 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) | 140 mg/dL to 199 mg to dL (7.8 to 11.1 mmol/L) |
Diabetes (type 1 or type 2) | 6.5 percent or higher | 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher | 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher |
Learn more about diagnosing diabetes in: Types of Diabetes.
Please note: Type 1 diabetes tends to develop very quickly, which means that by the time symptoms are felt, blood sugar levels are often well above 200 mg/dL all the time. For many people, symptoms come on so quickly that they are dismissed as a lingering flu or another seemingly ordinary virus.
By the time blood sugar levels are checked, many people with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes may have levels above 400 mg/dL or higher.
If you suspect that you or a loved one has type 1 diabetes, visit your primary care or urgent care immediately and ask for a urine test to measure ketones in addition to checking blood sugar levels and A1c.
Read more about ketones at diagnosis in: How to Avoid Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA).
Your A1c and blood sugar goals
Managing any type of diabetes is far more complicated than giving a person some insulin and telling them to keep their blood sugars within X and X mg/dL. If you’ve lived with diabetes for more than a few days, you probably already know this.
What is A1c?
“A1c, also known as hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin, or glycohemoglobin, is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the last 2 to 3 months,” explains Christel Oerum, MS, in Diabetes Strong’s guide to lowering your A1c.
Although the test reflects the glucose attached to hemoglobin (the protein in your red blood cells) over the past 2 to 3 months, the blood sugar levels in the 2 weeks leading up to your A1c test influence the results the most. Essentially, higher blood sugar levels during this period result in more glucose binding to hemoglobin.
Translating your A1c to a blood sugar level
Using this simple calculator from the ADA, you can translate your most recent A1c result to an “eAG,” or “estimated average glucose level.”
You can also use this translation when working to improve your A1c and achieve closer to normal blood sugar levels.
For instance, if you know an A1c of 6.0 percent equates to an average blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L), then you can look at your current blood sugar results on your CGM and meter and pinpoint what time of day you’re frequently higher than that level.
A1c | eAG |
6 percent | 126 mg/dL |
7 percent | 154 mg/dL |
8 percent | 183 mg/dL |
9 percent | 212 mg/dL |
10 percent | 240 mg/dL |
11 percent | 269 mg/dL |
12 percent | 298 mg/dL |
Normal blood sugar levels in a person without diabetes can result in an A1c of 5.6 percent or lower.
Just a decade or two ago, it was rare for a person with type 1 diabetes to achieve an A1c result below 6.0 percent.
Thanks to new and improved insulin and better technology like CGMs, smarter insulin pumps, and hybrid closed-loop technology (which allows some insulin doses to be automatically delivered), more people with diabetes are now able to safely achieve A1c levels in the higher 5 percent range.
Why your A1c matters
In a nutshell: Your A1c is one of the clearest indicators of your risk for developing diabetes complications like neuropathy (nerve damage), retinopathy (a type of eye disease), nephropathy (kidney disease), cardiovascular disease, and severe infection in any part of your body that requires healing.
For instance, a small cut on your toe could become infected due to high blood sugars, struggle to heal, and become severe enough that the infection could require an amputation.
The general guidelines from the ADA recommend an A1c level of less than 7.0 percent to help prevent diabetes-related complications. Lowering your A1c closer to 6.0 percent may further reduce the risk of microvascular complications (those impacting the small blood vessels), such as those affecting the eyes (retinopathy), kidneys (nephropathy), and nerves (neuropathy).
Some people with diabetes aim for A1c levels in the 5s and lower — especially those who follow strict low-carb diets like the ketogenic diet and the Bernstein diet. However, this hasn’t been proven in research as especially necessary, nor is it reasonably achievable for the larger population of people with diabetes.
It’s also important to remember that your blood sugar levels and your A1c are just information that tells you whether your body needs changes in factors like insulin, other diabetes medications like metformin, your nutrition, or your physical activity.
If you don’t like the number you’re seeing on your glucose meter or your A1c results, use that number as motivation to make changes (with the support of your diabetes healthcare team) in how you safely manage your diabetes in order to get different results.
Determining the right A1c goal for you
Just because a blood sugar range of 70 to 130 mg/dL (3.9 to 7.2 mmol/L) is considered the healthiest for people with diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the appropriate goal range for you — especially if you have type 1 diabetes, or take insulin as a person with type 2 diabetes.
The reason this may not be the right goal for you is that extremely tight blood sugar management in people taking insulin can potentially lead to frequent hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be dangerous.
Achieving extremely tight blood sugar management also generally requires a strict nutrition plan, very frequent blood sugar monitoring, precise medication management, and, often, years of experience studying your blood sugar levels.
Your A1c goals should be set in close consultation with your medical team, who can help balance the benefits and risks of different targets based on your health status, lifestyle, and preferences.
Older adults with cognitive or functional limitations or severe comorbidities (major additional health issues) may have a less-stringent A1c goal of less than 8 percent.
It is also worth noting that your A1c targets can change over time as your diabetes management evolves.
A1c goals should be individualized
“A1c goals should be individualized based on the individual capabilities, risks, and prior experiences,” explains Gary Scheiner, MS, CDCES, founder of Integrated Diabetes and author of Think Like a Pancreas.
“For example, we generally aim for very tight A1c levels during pregnancy and more conservative targets in young children and the elderly.”
Scheiner highlights important factors that could justify aiming for a higher A1c, like hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which a person with diabetes no longer feels the typical warning signs of low blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia unawareness can put you at significant risk for severe low blood sugars that have the potential to be life-threatening. To reduce that risk, you would aim for higher target blood sugar ranges.
“Someone with significant hypoglycemia unawareness and a history of severe lows should target higher blood glucose levels than someone who can detect and manage their lows more effectively,” adds Scheiner.
“And certainly, someone who has been running A1cs in double digits [like 10 percent or higher] for quite some time should not be targeting an A1c of 6 percent … better to set modest, realistic, achievable goals.”
Read about reducing your A1c in: How to Lower Your A1c and How to Lower A1c Naturally.
Your blood sugar isn’t just because of what you eat
It’s easy to believe that your blood sugar levels are impacted only by what you eat and how much you exercise, but people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who check their blood sugars frequently could tell you otherwise.
It’s especially important to keep this in mind when looking at your own blood sugars and your goals, because there are certain variables and challenges that impact blood sugar levels that you can’t always control.
For example:
- Menstrual cycles: often raise blood sugar and insulin needs
- Adrenaline rushes from competitive sports, heated arguments, roller coaster rides, and other intense situations: raise blood sugar and insulin needs
- The common cold and other illnesses: usually raise blood sugar and insulin needs
- Hormonal changes due to puberty and healthy growth in young adults: raise blood sugar and insulin needs
- An injury that increases overall inflammation levels: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
- Gluconeogenesis during anaerobic exercise: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
While you can’t necessarily prevent these factors that affect your blood sugar from occurring, you can work with your diabetes healthcare team to adjust your insulin, other diabetes medications, nutrition, and activity levels to help compensate for them when they do occur.
For example, when engaging in anaerobic exercise such as weightlifting, many people with type 1 diabetes find it necessary to take a small bolus of insulin prior to or during their workout because anaerobic exercise can actually raise blood sugar.
Final thoughts: Still frustrated with your blood sugar and A1c results?
Your blood sugars and your insulin or medication needs never stay in one place. If you gain weight or lose weight, your insulin and medication needs will change. If you become more active or less active, your needs will change. If you make drastic or even small changes to your nutrition, your needs will change.
Working with your diabetes healthcare team and diabetes coaches who can teach you how to make changes in your overall diabetes management plan is essential. Diabetes is a lifelong learning process.
Take a deep breath and be patient. If you don’t like what you’re seeing on your glucose meter, don’t get mad … get studying! Take good notes and work with your team to make changes to reach your goals.
Shirley Mitchell
My blood sugar levels was 123 in May 2021 on the 3 of june 2021 in the evening it is 133 is this dangerous. Am i diabetic
Christel Oerum
That’s not enough data to go by. Those blood sugars are slightly elevated but that could be due to stress, meal, or other temporary issues. The only way to receive a diagnosis is to see your doctor and have an A1C test done
Nuaud
I am diagnosed with type-2 (8.3) before a 8days however, I do not want to start the medication. It has been a week (right after the day I diagnosed) since I start going to GYM and strict plan on diet. I am totally eating only vegetables and doing intermittent fasting (16Hrs fasting). Currently, my blood sugar is 134-156 before fasting and 180-203 after meal. It sometimes become low like 110 after a GYM before I got to bed. What do you advice me? is this normal
Christel Oerum
I’d advise you to take the medication your doctor has prescribed. Your blood sugars are still running high so you need them. Your new lifestyle might help you enough that your doctor can reduce or eliminate your medication at some point, but you should not do that by yourself.
A drop in blood sugars after exercise is normal, at a blood sugar of 110 mg/dl is within normal range, so I’d just take that as a win
Tasha
Hey I need to ask you something…I am newly diagnosed with type 1.. was admitted to hospital with DKA and then got diagnosed.. my ketones were clear at the time of discharge.. but still.. my fasting figures are above 200…I am on 12 units of N and 8 units of R… any suggestions..
Christel Oerum
If you consistently run high you need to work with your medical team on how to increase your insulin. You most likely will need more basal insulin, your long-acting insulin, but potentially also more rapid-acting. You most likely will see your insulin needs fluctuate and my advice would be that you learn how to adjust it yourself rather than relying on your medical team. However, you’re just diagnosed and that takes time to learn. So until you build up the knowledge and the confidence you should rely on your team
Roland
I am in my early thirties. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four weeks ago. I had an A1c of 12.3 and a BG of 326! I was prescribed a 1000mg dose of Metformin. After my diagnosis I shifted a 180 on my diet and exercise. I am now eating a semi-keto diet, and consuming 70 or less carbs per day. I walk a good 30-40 minutes after every meal. I’m trying to reduce my weight by 25 pounds (7 pounds down). I invested in a CGM system (Dexcom G6). There is a 10-12 point discrepancy with the readings but it is accurate enough that I can track my increases after meals.
Now, four weeks later my average BG reading according to Dexcom is 107. Yesterday my average was 102, and the day before that it was 97. I have an appointment with my doc in a couple of weeks. Is it possible to see such a turn around? I don’t want to get my hopes up but I’m starting to think I can put this thing into remission.
Christel Oerum
Sounds like you’re making solid progress! Well done. What you’re doing is clearly working for you. If it continues like this your doctor might eventually reduce your metformin. This has to become a lifestyle, and if you keep it up, you might see that your blood sugars continue to be in the normal range (more about Type 2 reversal here: https://diabetesstrong.com/is-type-2-diabetes-reversible/
Anbreen javed
Hi few days before i check my blood suger after 3 hour meal is 3.7 than i eat 1 to 2 bite chocolate than its go to 5.7 and after 30 to 35 minutes its again low4.1 .after this i check my blood suger Regular in the morning whan i check its 4.1 after 15mintus its gone little bit up 4.3 again whan i ckeck after its 4.6 i not eat anything between after this 3rd day morning time is 4.8 and after 2 hour breakfast is 5.4.now today i check before dinner it is 5.1 and 3 hour after dinner is 6.6 .i give u all reading its normal or something wrong .i am not a Diabetic
Christel Oerum
Those all fall within normal blood sugars. If you’re nervous or in doubt you should ask your doctor for an A1C test, that’s a more reliable way of detecting elevated blood sugars
Margaret Mancarella
I was 258lbs with an. A1c of 11…dieted hard and lost 20 lbs but only dropped to an A1c of 10. Frustrated, my brother suggested I try a keto lifestyle and within 11 months dropped 50 lbs and achieved an A1c of 6.3!! Off if insulin and glimeperide and now only taking metformin. It was not that difficult once I did my research…kind of angry that after 18 years worth of doctors and dieticians advice no one ever mentioned a true low carb diet. Why isn’t this information more readily accepted as a way of getting off the insulin+6 mini meals to”keep from having low blood sugars”? Seriously, it’s not a complicated option to at least try KETO. My own endocrinologist offhandedly stated,when I was got to a 7.0 A1c, that “yeah, but it’s not proven to be sustainable”…well, I hate to rob him of writing more scripts, but it seems to be a pretty simple and inexpensive way to go!
Abdul Mueed
Hello,
My fasting Blood sugar is 73 (7 hours fasting) after 2 hours of meal it comes back to 86. My A1c is 5.0.
Is it normal or below normal?
Christel Oerum
That sounds like perfectly healthy blood sugar readings, but if you have any concerns you should see your doctor or bring it up during your annual visit
Mary
I had a level of 5.9 a year and a half ago . I worked very hard on diet, and walked 150 minutes a week. It got down to 5.5
I have been sick for quite awhile, and now my A1C is 5.7. The estimated average blood level is 117.
My glucose blood level is 86. I am really confused.
I feel very discouraged to be in the 5.7 range again, but am also confused about my not that off the charts blood measurement (86) Is there anything encouraging to say?
//
Christel Oerum
Sickness or general stress on the body can make blood sugars go up, I wouldn’t worry too much about a brief increase, knowing that it will come back down. Remember your A1C is an average, so that includes the times where you’re not measuring your blood sugars, such as overnight. Unless your doctor advice you to make any changes, I’d be happy with the progress and the knowledge that what you’re doing is working for you
Zeidane
Hi all, I was diagnosed with prediabetes about 8 months ago ,My blood sugar has ranged from 110 to 126 in the mornoing ,amost all days. I satrt walking, changed the diet, but without taking medication. I feel so much better. My A1c was 7.8,now my A1c was at 6.7 .
I figure out thet my blood suger higher in the morning , range 110 to 144, more than any given time during the day.
Please advice .
Thanks in advance.
Christel Oerum
Congratulations on working towards reducing your blood sugars. Your morning blood sugars might be running a little higher due to you being high overnight or your morning hormones. If you’re high overnight you could cut back on your evening meal (some do well with not eating after 7 PM) or add some activity to their evening routine. Morning hormones are a bit harder, you add activity such as walking, and remmeber to stay hydrated.
Chris
I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about two months ago. I’m on my medication. My blood sugar has ranged from 119 to 156 on any given day. I’ve been walking, changed my diet, and taking my medication. I feel so much better. My A1c was 12.2 and triglycerides were off the charts at 8173. That was over a month ago. Now my A1c was at 8 and my triglycerides are at 300. I go back and in 3 months to see were I am. Your thoughts
Christel Oerum
That’s amazing, well done!! I’m so glad that’s working for you and that you’re feeling better.
I would just continue doing what you’re doing and when you get back to your doctor’s office in 3-months you can discuss if you need to adjust your meds. And be proud of your accomplishment!