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.
steve giles
I’ve bee struggling with diabetes for approx. 7 years my doctors answer is to throw more meds at it my weight 265 normal dad bod I’m fixing to turn 46 I drink a gallon of water a day and diet isn’t horrible he said my sugar should be under 100 but with all research I’ve done everyone’s normal sugar level is different I’m so frustrated….
Christel Oerum
If you can’t achieve “blood sugars” or relatively normal blood sugars through diet and exercise, you might have to accept medication. Medication isn’t failure but means that your body needs a little help. This article explains it in more detail: https://diabetesstrong.com/is-type-2-diabetes-reversible/
Especially check out section 1.1
All that being said, saying you need to be under 100 mg/dl at all times makes no sense, everyone’s blood sugar fluctuates. But you don’t want your average to be too high either. A1C goals are individual, but most often set to be 7.5% or lower
amira
can HbA1c result affected by beta thalssemia minor ? as it’s type of hemolytic anaemia
( fasting blood glucose 140 and hbA1c =5)
should be considered as diabetic ?
Christel Oerum
I’m sorry but I don’t know the answer to that question
Stephanie Graziano, RD, CDCES
Hi Amira,
I am a dietitian and diabetes specialist. Yes, anemia can affect blood sugar results so your A1c is likely higher than 5. Your fasting blood glucose of 140 is putting you within the diabetes range. You should speak to your primary care doc about having consecutive lab testing (other than A1c) to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes.
Wayne
Hi Christel,
I am testing myself as I believe my blood sugar goes high but I’m not convinced I have a problem, just that I work in IT and so I sit nearly all day.
I test when I feel myself feeling a little tired and the reading has come back as 10, even 11 maybe once or twice. I do think it depends on what I’m eating for example, I just had a slice of toast and Marmite and after 30 minutes my Blood Sugar was 8.5 and I felt a little sleepy so I got up, did some exercise for 510 minutes or so and then after another 15 minutes it was 6.6
My A1C 18th June came back as 5.4%
Was is “normal” after eating a meal? Is it ok for BS to go as high as 10/11? Does it matter how high and how long it is high for or do we just look at the post 1hr / 2hr times?
Trying to work out what the triggers are for me that raise my BS so high and if this high reading is anything to worry about…
Thanks
Wayne
Should be 5 to 10 minutes not 510!
Also, I don’t get the tiredness feeling after every meal so I kind of think this is a trigger for me to check.
Also, my BS was 5.7 before eating the Toast with Marmite.
Christel Oerum
Even people without diabetes will see their blood sugars fluctuate especially after a meal, so that’s quite normal. Your A1C indicates that your body is good at adjusting your blood sugars by itself, but continue to get it checked just to keep an eye on it.
I would focus on the 2 hours after the meal reading and bring the information to your next doctor’s visit
Nasir Abbas
My age is 48, for last 5 years i consistently am getting painful acne on my body with pus. On 22nd May, 2021, while visiting doctor, i got first time my a1c test which was 13.5. My doctor warned me and gave me amaryl 2mg 1 @ morning and 1/2 @ night. I used the medicine for 1 month and one day (25th June, 2021) i felt like my sugar is going low. From that day i started a strict diet plan and didn’t use the medicine. Afterwards my sugar reading chart is as follows :-
Month, Year Date Type Time Result Remarks
July, 20201 2 Fasting 5.15am 126
Random 12.15am 175
3 Fasting 9.54am 121
Random 10.45am 152 Tablet
4 Fasting 11.15am 96
Random 15.15pm 169
5 Fasting 10.15am 129
Random 12.45am 192
Random 22.45pm 115
6 Fasting 6am 117
Random 10.45am 117
Random 22.45pm 105
7 Fasting 11am 112
Random 12.15am 192
Random 23.15pm 103
8 Fasting 9.45am 111
Random 11.15am 152
Random 23pm 88
9 Fasting 10.45am 117
Random 22.45pm 152
10 Fasting 7.45am 112
Random 22,30pm 130
11 Fasting 14.15pm 102 18 Hours Solid 14 Hours Chia Milk 9 Hours Water
Fasting
Random 22.10pm 101 After 15 minutes of White Flour Bread
Random 23,35pm 210 After 1 Hour of Tea @ 22.30 and 2 Biscuits
Should i continue struggling with diet plan or go for medicine.
Christel Oerum
I’m sorry but I can’t tell you what to do. If diet and exercise don’t work, your doctor will most likely suggest medication to help manage your blood sugars. My suggestion would be to follow your doctor’s recommendation. You’ll feel much better once your blood sugars are well managed
Gaurav Mittal
My FBS is 95 and PP after 2 hours is 125 but my HBA1C value came to 6.4. What does that mean? I tested in evening post 4 hours of food and it was 88.
Christel Oerum
It means that your blood sugars are running a little high on average. A1C is an average number and reflects your blood sugars roughly over the last 3 months
Khursheed Ahmad
Sir,my fasting glucose level is 113 , Hbaic 6.7, now my fasting glucose level is 95, random is 90 Doctor has not prescribe any medical only says diet control & 30 minutes exercise, can this reversable, thanks
Christel Oerum
It might be possible, please see this article on whether Type 2 diabetes is reversible: https://diabetesstrong.com/is-type-2-diabetes-reversible/
Joy
I tested 170 is that normal
Christel Oerum
That will depend on the situation, if you just within the last 2 hours of the test you’re probably fine. But if you’re concerned please see your doctor. Only your doctor can diagnose you
Appu
Hii I had recently checked diabetes test and I got a report like Normal 100 preDiabetes is 100-125 and diabetics is >= 126
Can u please tell me whether iam any any problem
Christel Oerum
If you’ve been diagnosed with pre-diabetes you need to follow your doctors guidance. There are a lot of things that you can do to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes but you have to make those changes now. You can find more resources on pre-diabetes here https://diabetesstrong.com/category/diabetes/prediabetes/
Santhana
Hi mam 2:30 pm I have taken my lunch very less quantity of rice . But I got some giddiness and sweating I checked my blood sugar is 190 is it normal or guide me to reduce
Christel Oerum
If your blood sugars don’t come down consistently below 180 mg/dl within 2 hours of your meal you should see your doctor and discuss a treatment plan
Sophie Wells
I had 125 today. I’mm.trying but my kids are always needing mommy so it’s hard.
Moira evans
My meter for blood sugar is an old one it read today before food 10.8 I don’t understand the latest words I’m 70 is my reading ok I am diabetic 2
Christel Oerum
10.8 mmol/L is on the high side for a fasting blood sugar. It could be a one-off though or an inaccuate reading. If you continue to wake up with elevated blood sugars you should see your doctor and discuss a treatment plan
Grace Tinsle
My blood sugar levels have consistently been 90 two hours after dinner and then 97-102 in the mornings after 12 hours of not eating. 105-113 two hours after eating breakfast. I was nervous so I got my A1C tested and it was 4.7. How is this possible? My blood sugar readings indicate at least pre-diabetes.
Christel Oerum
Your A1C is an average of your blood sugars 24/7 over the last 3 months. That means that it also includes those times where you’re sleeping or not measuring. You might be hovering closer to 80 mg/dl overnight and start to rise to 97-102 in the morning. Or your meter might be overestimating your blood sugars. Regardless, it’s good that you got the test. Better to know than go around and be nervous