What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

Blood sugar levels are a daily subject for discussion among people with diabetes, whether they have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Knowing what levels are good for you and how to manage your sugar correctly.

Key Takeaways

• If you do not have diabetes, your blood sugar is usually between 70-99 before meals and under 140 after meals.
• For diabetics, a good range is 80-130 before meals and less than 180 after meals.
• To manage blood sugar well, you must watch what you eat, stay active, take medicine if needed, and make healthy lifestyle changes.
• A1c levels show how well your blood sugar has been controlled over a few months. For people with diabetes, it’s best to keep it under eight percent.

What Is Blood Glucose?

Blood glucose is the leading sugar content in your blood. Usually, it’s expressed in mg/dL (USA, Europe) or mmol/L (Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and China). It comes from your food and is your body’s primary energy source. Blood glucose levels measure how much sugar is in your blood. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate depending on the time of the day for several reasons. What we eat, how active we are, any medications we take, and even stress can all affect our blood sugar levels.

What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

Normal blood sugar levels vary based on when you last ate. Generally, for non-diabetics:

• Before meals (fasting): 70-99 mg/dL
• Two hours after eating: Less than 140 mg/dL

For people with diabetes the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that most people with diabetes aim for the following blood sugar goals:

• Before meals (preprandial): 80-130 mg/dL
• One to two hours after meals (postprandial): Less than 180mg/dL

Blood glucose levels can be affected by the type and amount of food consumed and other factors, such as physical activity, medications, co-existing medical conditions, stress, age, illness, and even menstrual periods or pregnancy. 

Your doctor will likely set different goals for you based on many factors, including your age, how long you’ve had diabetes, any co-existing illnesses or long-term conditions you might have, your lifestyle, and social circumstances.

Use the blood sugar conversion calculator to convert mg/dL to mmol/L or mmol/L to mg/dL.

What Is the Normal Blood Sugar Level for Children, Teens, and Adults?

Young children (younger than 6) have different normal blood sugar levels than adults. The normal range even varies depending on the child’s age.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides the following ranges as a guide:

• Fasting: 80-180 mg/dL
• Preprandial (before meals): 100-180 mg/dL
• Postprandial (one to two hours after eating): Less than 180 mg/dL
• Bedtime: 110-200 mg/dL

Teenagers’ blood sugar range should be between 70 and 150 mg/dL. It’s difficult for them to maintain a tight range, so aiming for these numbers is essential to give them more flexibility.

• Fasting: 70-150 mg/dL
• Preprandial (before meals): 90-130 mg/dL
• Postprandial (one to two hours after eating): Less than 140 mg/dL
• Bedtime: 90-150 mg/dL

As we age, our bodies become less able to regulate blood sugar levels than they used to. That’s why the ADA recommends that older adults (older than 20) aim for a fasting blood sugar level of less than 100 mg/dL. After eating, the ideal blood sugar level is below 180 mg/dL.

The ADA recommends that most adults with diabetes aim for the following blood sugar goals:

• Fasting: Less than 100 mg/dL
• Preprandial (before meals): 70-130 mg/dL
• Postprandial (one to two hours after eating): Less than 180 mg/dL
• Bedtime: 100-140 mg/dL

You should speak to your doctor if you experience high or low blood glucose levels compared to this range.

How Do You Manage Blood Sugar?

It’s not easy to manage your blood sugar, but it’s essential to do so if you have diabetes. There are many things you can do to keep your blood sugar levels healthy.

The first step is understanding what causes your blood sugar levels to go up and down. This will help you make choices that keep your blood sugar levels within your target range.

Food Choices

Food choices are an essential part of managing your blood sugar. Eating foods that raise too much blood sugar can cause problems such as weight gain, high triglycerides, and low HDL (good) cholesterol. On the other hand, eating foods that don’t raise your blood sugar enough can leave you feeling tired and hungry. You’ll need to find a balance that works for you.

Your doctor can help you create a meal plan that includes the right mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. You’ll also need to pay attention to how much you eat and the timing of your meals.

Exercise

Exercise is another essential part of managing blood sugar. It can help your body use insulin more effectively and lower blood sugar levels by helping you burn off glucose in your bloodstream.

You’ll need to talk to your doctor about how much exercise is safe for you. While daily exercise is proven to be protective against future complications of diabetes as well as other significant conditions like heart disease and stroke, people with diabetes are at risk for developing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during or after exercise. This can be dangerous and even life-threatening. Therefore, it is essential to set individual goals depending on each person’s medical background and lifestyle.

Plate Method

The plate method can help you control your portion sizes and ensure you get the right mix of nutrients.

Start by filling half of your plate with non-starchy vegetables. These are low in carbohydrates and calories but high in vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Next, add a serving of protein to your plate. This can be lean meat, chicken, fish, tofu, or beans.

Counting Carbohydrates

Every person with diabetes learns it at diagnosis, and many nondiabetics know it, too: “You have to watch your carbs!”

Carbohydrates are found in many foods, including bread, cereals, fruits, starchy vegetables, dairy products, sweets, and some processed foods. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose (sugar), raising blood sugar levels.

That’s why people with diabetes need to be aware of the number of carbohydrates they’re eating. They must learn to count carbohydrates to keep their blood sugar levels within their target range.

Your doctor or dietitian can teach you how to count carbohydrates.

Low Blood Sugar Levels Symptoms

Low blood sugar levels, or hypoglycemia, can happen to anyone but is more common in people with diabetes. Low blood sugar levels can occur if you miss a meal, exercise too hard, or take too much insulin or oral diabetes medications.

Signs and symptoms that your blood sugar might be on the low side include:

• Shivering
• Dizziness
• Sweating
• Hunger
• Headache
• Anxiety or feeling of nervousness

You must check your blood sugar levels immediately if you have any of these symptoms. You can use a home glucose meter to test your blood sugar levels. The ADA recommends that people with diabetes keep a fast-acting source of sugar, like glucose tablets, with them at all times in case they experience low blood sugar levels.

High Blood Sugar Levels Symptoms

High blood sugar levels, or hyperglycemia, can occur if you don’t take enough insulin, miss a meal, or exercise too little. Stress, illness, or some medications can also cause high blood sugar levels.

Signs and symptoms that your blood sugar might be on the high side include:

• Increased urination
• Excessive thirst (dry mouth)
• Blurry vision
• Fatigue
• Nausea

Treating high blood sugar levels quickly is essential to avoid more severe problems. You can prevent high blood sugar levels by taking your insulin or diabetes medications regularly and following your recommended diet as best as possible. 

If your blood sugar levels are higher than acceptable, you should monitor levels frequently and seek advice from your doctor or specialist nurse).

How Is Diabetes Diagnosed?

A diagnosis of diabetes is usually made when fasting blood sugar is above 126 mg/dL or the A1c is 6.5% or higher.

HBa1c (A1c) is the glycated hemoglobin level, representing blood glucose control over the last three months by measuring glycated hemoglobin levels.

If your fasting blood sugar levels are between 100 and 126 mg/dL, you can be diagnosed with prediabetes.

In some individuals, diabetes may develop quickly, and this can cause very high blood sugar levels that range between 200 mg/dL and 400 mg/dL or above. This often leads to a life-threatening condition requiring hospitalization and sometimes intensive care treatment. 

If you have any of the following symptoms, it’s essential to speak to your doctor; these symptoms could be an indication that your blood sugar is high:

• Increased urination
• Excessive thirst
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Blurry vision
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
• Slow-healing cuts and bruises

A diagnosis of diabetes is serious, but it doesn’t mean your life has to change dramatically. Many treatments are available that can help you manage your condition and live a long, healthy life. Treatment usually involves a combination of lifestyle modification, medication, diet, and exercise. You’ll work with your healthcare team to create a treatment plan.

There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body process glucose (sugar) from food. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not use insulin properly. People with either type of diabetes need to control their blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, and medication.

Measuring Your Average Blood Sugar With A1c

Your A1c level represents your average blood glucose control over the past two to three months. The lower your A1c, the better your blood sugar control. An A1c of less than seven percent is typical for people without diabetes. For people with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an A1c below eight percent.

The ADA provides a precise range of blood sugar levels following the A1c percentages.

Poor A1c Results for a Diabetic

• 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

Moderate A1c Results for a Diabetic

• 9% = 212 mg/dL or range of 170 –249
• 8% = 183 mg/dL or range of 147 – 217

Good A1c Results for a Diabetic

• 7% = 154 mg/dL or range of 123 – 185

A1c Results for Non-diabetics

• 6% = 126 mg/dL or range of 100 – 152
• 5% = 97 mg/dL or range of 76 – 120

Conclusion

Normal blood sugar levels can vary based on many factors, including age and a person’s health conditions. The ranges for normal blood sugar levels provide a general guideline. Still, it’s essential to work with your doctor to set goals that are achievable for you to maintain reasonable blood sugar control and ultimately prevent future complications of diabetes. Blood glucose levels should be monitored closely with a daily blood sugar test (or several times a day, as per your physician), especially if you have diabetes, to prevent any long-term health complications.