Your blood sugar levels are a critical part of your overall health and your body’s ability to function properly on a daily basis.
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 a non-diabetic’s body, and realistic blood sugar goals for people with prediabetes, type 1, and type 2 diabetes.
Normal blood sugar ranges in healthy non-diabetics
For a person without any type of diabetes, blood sugar levels are generally between 70 to 130 mg/dL depending on the time of day and the last time they ate a meal.
Newer theories about non-diabetic blood sugar levels have included post-meal blood sugar levels as high as 140 mg/dL.
(If you live outside the US and are used to measures in mmol/L, just divide all numbers by 18)
Here are the normal blood sugar ranges for a person without diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association:
- Fasting blood sugar (in the morning, before eating): Less than 100 mg/dL
- 1-2 hours after a meal: Less than 140 mg/dL
- 2-3 hours after eating: Less than 100 mg/dL
Diagnosing prediabetes, type 2, and type 1 diabetes
Depending on which country or medical organization you ask, the qualifying numbers for “normal” versus “prediabetes” versus diagnosed type 1 or type 2 diabetes can vary slightly.
The following blood sugar and A1c results are used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes according to sources including the American Diabetes Association and Diabetes UK:
Prediabetes
- HbA1c: 5.7 to 6.4 percent
- Fasting: 100 to 125 mg/dL
- 2 hours after a meal: 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL
Type 1 or 2 diabetes
- HbA1c: 6.5 percent or higher
- Fasting: 126 mg/dL or higher
- 2 hours after a meal: 200 mg/dL or higher
Please note: Type 1 diabetes tends to develop very quickly which means that by the time symptoms are felt, blood sugar levels are generally well above 200 mg/dL all the time. For many, symptoms come on so quickly that they are dismissed as the lingering flu or another seemingly ordinary virus.
By the time blood sugar levels are tested, many newly diagnosed type 1 patients will see levels above 400 mg/dL or higher. If you do 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 testing blood sugar levels and A1c.
Read more about ketones at diagnosis in our Diabetic Ketoacidosis Guide.
Your A1c and blood sugar goals
Managing any type of diabetes is far more complicated than giving a patient some insulin and telling them to keep their blood sugars within X and X. If you’ve lived with diabetes for more than a few days, you probably already know this.
What is A1c?
“A1c, hemoglobin A1c, HbA1c or glycohemoglobin test (all different names for the same thing) is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar over the last 2-3 months,” explains Christel Oerum in DiabetesStrong’s guide to lowering your A1c.
The prior two weeks of blood sugar levels before your blood is tested for your A1c have the largest impact on your results, but the amount of glucose attached to hemoglobin (the protein in your red blood cells) in your body from the prior 3 months. The more glucose there is in your bloodstream from high blood sugar levels, the more glucose there is to attach to hemoglobin.
Translating your A1c to a blood sugar level
Using this easy calculator from the ADA, you can translate your most recent A1C result to an “eAG” or “estimate average glucose level.”
You can also use this translation when working to improve your A1c and achieve closer to normal blood sugar levels.
If you know an A1c of 6.5 is an average blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL or a range of 100 to 152 mg/dL, then you can look at your current blood sugar results on your CGM and meter and pinpoint which time of day you’re frequently higher than this range.
12% = 298 mg/dL or range of 240 – 347
11% = 269 mg/dL or range of 217 – 314
10% = 240 mg/dL or range of 193 – 282
9% = 212 mg/dL or range of 170 –249
8% = 183 mg/dL or range of 147 – 217
7% = 154 mg/dL or range of 123 – 185
6% = 126 mg/dL or range of 100 – 152
5% = 97 mg/dL or range of 76 – 120
“Normal blood sugar levels” in a person without diabetes can result in an A1c as low as 4.6 or 4.7 percent and as high as 5.6 percent.
Just a decade or two ago, it was rare for a person with type 1 diabetes to achieve an A1c result below 6 percent. Thanks to new and improved insulin and better technology like continuous glucose monitors and smarter insulin pumps, more people with diabetes are 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 in your hands and feet), retinopathy (nerve damage in your eyes, risking blindness), nephropathy (nerve damage in your kidneys), 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 lead to an amputation.
The general guidelines from the American Diabetes Association recommend an A1c at or below 7.0 percent for the best prevention of diabetes complications. Your risk of developing a diabetes complication continues to drop as your A1c drops closer to 6 percent.
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 more or less of factors like insulin, other diabetes medications like Metformin, changes in your nutrition, and changes in your exercise.
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 normal blood sugar range of 70 to 130 mg/dL is considered the healthiest 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 low blood sugars — which can be dangerous.
Achieving extremely tight blood sugar management, like a range of 70 to 130 mg/dL, also often requires a strict nutrition plan, more frequent than usual blood sugar monitoring, precise medication management, and most importantly, years of experience studying your blood sugar levels.
A1c goals should be individualized
“A1c goals should be individualized based on the individual capabilities, risks, and prior experiences,” explains Gary Scheiner, MS, CDE, 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.”
However, Scheiner highlights important factors that could justify aiming for a higher A1c, like “hypoglycemia unawareness,” which is described as when a person with diabetes no longer feels the oncoming warning signs of low blood sugar. This can put you at significant risk for severe low blood sugars resulting in seizures or death. 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 A1c’s in double digits [like 10 percent or higher] for quite some time should not be targeting an A1c of 6%… better to set modest, realistic, achievable goals.”
Your blood sugar isn’t just because of what you eat
Mainstream media would have you 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 test 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: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
- Adrenaline rushes from competitive sports, heated arguments, or rollercoaster rides: raises 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: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
- An injury that raises overall inflammation levels: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
- Glucogenesis during anaerobic exercise: raises blood sugar
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 — like 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.
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 are 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.
Read more about improving your A1c in DiabetesStrong’s guide, How to Lower Your A1c.
Jane S.
Pls I use an oncall glucose meter to check my sugar level,but d results am getting is really disturbing. What can I do to bring my level down. It seems all the medications are no longer working for me. Pls help,am frustrated!
Christel Oerum
If your current medical plan isn’t helping you manage your blood sugars to the levels you’re looking for it might be time to see your doctor. There are different ways to lower your blood sugars (a few tips here https://youtu.be/ciulZaQSb-s) but they all require you to have enough insulin circulating in your body
Sifa
Hello, I have one tip for you. Make a goal to walk 800-1000 steps every hour during the day time. Eat less carbs, cut carbs in half what you eating and exercise for 30 mins. Sleep 7-8 hours. Works for me in 3-4 weeks from 11 to drop to 6.5. Human body is not designed to sit around for 8-10 hours that’s what I learned the hard way.
Joanne
Just want to thank you for these most informative articles. Diagnosed just over a year ago as type 1 in my “ Medicare” years!
Quinito
Likewise Thanks. Helps having science based interpretation given forth for knowledge enhancement.
Tony
It’s interesting to see what ‘normal’ looks like, especially as more people are wearing CGMs such as Supersapiens and posting the results on Social Media. I always imagined that ‘normal’ people had perfectly flat BG graphs, BUT THEY DON’T ?. They get spikes after eating carbs and lows after cardio wtc. The difference to T1 is that the spikes and lows are short-lived (and self-correcting).
Christel Oerum
Yes! Most people don’t realize that people who don’t live with diabetes don’t have flat lines
Nancy V
Excellent article. You provided a1C and blood glucose targets that diabetics can live with and still be healthy. Thanks!
Jane Smith
Would you have a resource that converts the Blood Sugar Levels into the measurement used in Australia? Our levels are talked about 5-10 hypo 1-4. You have so many great articles but just like we have different temp gauges (Celsius and Fahrenheit) the BSLs measurements are different as well.
Jane Smith
Just saw the note Do I just divide by 18?
Christel Oerum
Yes, divide by 18. So a blood sugar of 180 mg/dl is 10 mmol/L (180/18=10)
Laura Weyler
I respectfully disagree that low carb diets increase the number of hypoglycemic events. In case scale, a low carb diet, less than 50 grams per day, ha eliminated hypos.
Edith Murphy
I need a recipe for stuffed peppers that diabetics can eat
Christel Oerum
Then you’ll probably like this recipe: https://diabetesstrong.com/stuffed-peppers-without-rice/
You can always explore our recipe library for more recipes
Sherry
I just found out 3 months ago I have type 2 diabetes. I have been trying to research what is a good number to have after eating and what’s to high . But I’ve been getting all different answers. Also what is some of the right foods to eat and again getting different answers. Hoping you can help.
Christel Oerum
The American Diabetes Association has the following recommendations included in their 2021 Standards of Care publication:
Fasting blood sugar recommendation for health non-regnant adults 80–130 mg/dL
Recommendation for 2 hours after a meal: below 180 mg/dl (recommendations for many nonpregnant adults with diabetes)
As for nutrition, there is not one set diet that works for everyone. You have to experiment with different ways of eating or work with a Registered Dietitian to find what works for you.
Manny
Hi, reviewed the source for normal blood sugar levels at the hyperlink you provided but I could not find where the ADA recommends normal blood sugar 2 hours after a meal at 90-110. Perhaps they changed the link. Are you able to share?
Christel Oerum
You are right, it looks like they removed that from their website. I’ll have to reach out to them and do some digging in order to update it. Thank you for making us aware
Carol
Christel, I am so glad that I received one of your newsletters on my email out of the blue. I have just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and I find your newsletter very informative. Thank you very much! I of course signed up for continueal emails from you.
I tried to get a Libre meter that is placed on my arm, but they told my doctor that a person has to be a Type 1 diabetic & on insulin to be eligible to get one. To buy one of pocket is way over my budget. I really wish Dexcom and Libre would realize that those units would benefit Type 2 diabetics too. I would LOVE to be able to check my BS regularly, I know my daily BS reading would be better, which would effect my A1c as well. I was put on 5mg of Metormin, which really helps when diagnosed. I do prick my finger minimum of three times a day, and if I want a snack, I get up from watching TV at night and check my BS after 2 to see if it is below 130 so I can try eat a reasonable snack Watching portions and carbs reminds me of when I was young and I would try to lose weight, it’s feels to me, basically, the same concept. I am 74 years old and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis since 47 years. Thank you again for all your informative newsletters.
Christel Oerum
Welcome to the Diabetes Strong community, and thank you for the kind feedback. Your Type 2 diagnosis also shouldn’t determine if you qualify for a CGM (like Libre or Dexcom), but I do believe it depends on the type of insurance you have.
For Medicare, I believe the main criteria is that you have to use insulin. Might be something to keep in mind should your medication need change in the future
Isis
I have type two diabetes and I have the free libre reader. It was prescribed by my doctor at Stanford. Call your insurance.
Nan
My ins kept giving me issues on the Freestyle Libre so my dr contacted a DME company that mailed me 12 weeks. That being said I am type 2 also and did regular Freestyle with my phone before the interruption of them working it out and the DME sent me the Libre 2 & meter to read it. It stayed really high so a day or two before I had to change it I start checking it with my old meter at the same time 4 times that day and the libre 2 was 60 points higher, 12 points higher, 45 points higher etc. I even have them side by side in a pic. So I will go back to my phone tomorrow when I put it back on and double check it with my old meter. It surprised me that much difference, and it also helps to get the 4” 3M HD derma tape to keep it on with thin piece of gauze over meter to make it easier to change if starts peeling off from shower, steam, clothing etc… hope part of these help and if anyone has thoughts on the meter variations on Libre 2 I would love to hear as it was only my second time wearing one in 2 months.
Braye
I would find irregular readings disturbing. Has anyone else had that problem?
Bjw
Yes. My readings are always 20 to 50 points off . I called the company and they explained that you need to read all the pamphlets and it even tells you their readers and senors can and will be off by at least 30-50 percent.
I have been wearing mine since Oct 2021. And yes you probably will need to be on insulin to get it. I have ordered the sensor covers from Amazon it help keep it in place because they do seem to come unstuck from your flesh easily.