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.
Table of Contents
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.
Hi.Recently diagnosed type 2. Probably diabetic for well over 10 years. Unknown to me as I was without insurance for many years. My blood sugar level was 505 and my A1C was 14.9% when diagnosed in Mid-March 2022. My Dr. put me on Metformin 2x daily, morning and evening. I made strict changes to my diet and used the medication as prescribed. I had to have eye surgery in June to remove some cataracts that had developed in both eyes likely due to uncontrolled diabetes for many years as I am fairly young” just turned 58. So they tested my AIC again in early June prior to surgery. It came down to 8.2%. I had another A1C test the other day for my annual physical and it came down to 6.1%. However my morning fasting #’s have recently crept up into the low 200’s. My Dr said I might have Dawn Phenomenon. So she increased my nighttime dose of Metformin to 850 and wants me to take it at dinner instead of bedtime. This doesn’t make any sense to me because my evening numbers even after meals are never over 110. So why have me take a higher dose 4 hours earlier. ? Metformin only lasts about 7 hours. Thanks.
First of all, congrats on all your positive progress! That’s great.
I don’t know your doctor’s exact reason for advising you to take your Metformin earlier. It might be that she’s concerned that the larger dose will give you gastrointestinal issues, which can be mitigated by taking it with a meal.
Metformin does work longer than 7 hours and doesn’t instantly reduce blood sugar levels. The effects are usually noticeable within 48 hours. But I would just ask her. I always encourage anyone to discuss their medication with their medical team and push back if you disagree. They are the experts but you’re supposed to be a team, and it’s always ok to ask questions
Hi I am diabetic since 2 years now, but i could manage the ranges properly between 5.8 – 6.1 (H1BAC) but since 6 months my ranges are going over 6.9 and there was no much difference in my lifestyle (low carb intake + min 7000 steps walk ) i am trying hard to bring the ranges to normal but post meal ranges are most of the time between 130- 160 but my morning ranges are bit higher and are always between 120-140 can you please advice what can i do to bring these ranges to normal like before (Before 6 months always i manage to fall between 103- 118 but not anymore :()
I’d recommend you see your doctor and together make a plan for how to manage your blood sugars. You might have reached a point where diet and exercise no longer are enough to manage your blood sugars (read more here: https://diabetesstrong.com/is-type-2-diabetes-reversible/).
But aside from that, you could try adding resistance training to your routine, that is a great way of increasing your insulin sensitivity
Sadly am with type 2 diabetes just a year age I figured out when I was testing for my CDL medical test before, I never had any health problems ,never ever admitted hospital or any other place except for testing medical But truck driving damage my life. I can’t manage it’s some times 128 ,132,145, 231
I see all above Post are very helpful.
Thanks
Hi! My physician didn’t diagnose my type 2 diabetes for 8 months, calling it depression and anxiety. I gained 80 pounds, and when I quit to another physician, my a1c was 11.2. My first physician actually made a referral to a psychiatrist for somatoform disorder. I bought a glucometer, my sugars were averaging 450. Then my first physician is all hyper wanting to be proactive. The second physician has proven much better. Sugars are now 80-125.
I have been diagnosed as pre diabetic. Type 2. By watching my diet, which includes lowering my sugar consumption, I usually get a fasting reading of 99 to 120. Is this good, or does it need to stay around 99 or lower?
The ranges listed in this article are the general guidelines, however, diabetes management is often tailored to the individual. Your doctor might find 99-120 mg/dl to be an acceptable range but I encourage you to have that conversation with your doctor. If you both find that your levels should be lower you might have to alter your eating patterns further, include more exercise, or start a blood sugar-regulating drugs such as for example Metformin
Hi, is blood sugar of 103 after meal normal for a 24-year-old overall healthy male?
If you scroll down past the first paragraph you’ll see the normal blood sugar ranges for healthy non-diabetics. 103 mg/dl falls within that range
Thank you!
Hi
I had undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in March of 2021. I was hospitalized with a blood sugar level of 1500.
My A1C is now 5% and my blood sugar runs 90-120. I achieved this by diet and exercise. You can too. Keep the faith.
I have been on medication since 2018 using Janumet 50/500 after breakfast n Glycomet SR 500 after dinner. In 2018 Hba1c is 7 2 n now it reads 5.9. Can I skip Janumet n take Glycomet SR after breakfast also.
Congrats on managing your blood sugars that well! You have to have that discussion with your medical team. Never change or discontinue your medication without consulting with your doctor
My last question is have I been taking antidepressants for the last 10 months and will this medication increase the effectiveness of HA1C result?
I don’t know the answer to that but I doubt it. It would be a good conversation to have with your doctor
Can you tell me why when I get up my number is 118, but after I take shower, brush teeth etc, (about 1 hour) it jumps to 160, and I did not eat anything. It is very fustrating and I dont understand how this can be.
That sounds like a “Feet on the Floor” increase. It’s fairly common, so much that we have a whole article on how to avoid those high morning blood sugars that you can find here: https://diabetesstrong.com/how-to-avoid-high-morning-blood-sugars/
My fasting sugar count is 96 but my hb1ac is 6.2 kindly explain this
Your A1C is a reflection of your average blood sugars for the last 3 months. So your blood sugars must be running higher at other times of the day
its My question is this is the same question as FBS 93, HAIC 6.2. Another question I have is whether drinking water on an empty stomach has any effect on the outcome.?
Hydration can impact blood sugars but you don’t have to drink water on an empty stomach