Helping You Understand ‘Normal’ Blood Sugar Levels

Keeping track of your blood sugar is a key part of diabetes management.

Achieving a “normal” blood sugar or glucose level is a bit of a misnomer. Often, the word “normal” is used to reference what someone’s blood sugars might be if they didn’t have diabetes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the fasting glucose range between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 and 5.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

However, it’s important to note that this terminology isn’t the best. People without diabetes also experience blood sugar spikes, especially after consuming foods high in carbohydrates and sugar. Diabetes is unique to each person, meaning your target blood glucose goals may differ from someone else’s based on many factors.

What should your glucose levels be?

There’s no magic number for your blood sugar. Target ranges may vary for each person.

People with diabetes strive to keep their glucose levels under 140 mg/dL on average. If you don’t have diabetes, consider aiming for 70 to 100 mg/dL.

A healthcare professional may provide a diagnosis of prediabetes if you have the following test results:

• Fasting: 100 to 125 mg/dL

• 2 hours after eating: 140 to 199 mg/dL

The 2024 standards from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are a set of guidelines followed by many professionals in the diabetes field. This chart details goals for specific groups of people with diabetes:

	Before meals (fasting)	After meals (post-prandial)	Other
Adults with type 1 diabetes	80 to 130 mg/dL	less than 180 mg/dL	—
Adults with type 2 diabetes	80 to 130mg/dL	less than 180 mg/dL	—
Children with type 1 diabetes	90 to 130 mg/dL	—	90 to 150 mg/dL at bedtime/overnight
Pregnant people (T1D, gestational diabetes)	less than 95 mg/dL	140 mg/dL (1 hour after)	120 mg/dL (2 hours after)
65 or older	80 to 180 mg/dL	—	80 to 200 mg/dL for those with reduced mobility, in assisted living, or at the end of life
Without diabetes	99 mg/dL or below	140 mg/dL or below	—

These guidelines are used by the medical community as a starting point. Individual goals may vary based on your needs. Consider working with a doctor to determine what may be best for you.

What is a worrisome blood sugar level?

Hyperglycemia occurs when fasting glucose levels are greater than 125 mg/dL or when levels are 180 mg/dL or greater within 2 hours of eating.

Hypoglycemia is when glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dL. However, you may not experience any symptoms until they’re lower than 55 mg/dL.

Blood sugar levels that drop or rise to a dangerous level may increase your risk of developing life threatening complications.

Get immediate medication attention if you experience symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, such as:

• dizziness

• drowsiness

• nausea

• stomach pain

• excessive thirst

• fast breathing

• fast heart rate

• confusion

• seizure

• unconsciousness

Is A1C supposed to be the same as my blood sugar average?

A1C measures your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.

When sugar enters your bloodstream, it binds to a protein called hemoglobin. People with high blood sugar have a higher percentage of the hemoglobin protein coated with sugar.

An A1C test result could help indicate what percentage of your hemoglobin is bound to sugar, based on the following ranges from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Standard (no diabetes): less than 5.7%

• Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%

• Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

According to the CDC, the target A1C level is 7% or less.

However, it’s important to work closely with your diabetes care team to determine the best A1C goal for you. A1C levels don’t reflect all the nuances of diabetes management, such as glucose variability.

A1C is also not the same as your blood sugar average, which might be displayed on a fingerstick meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Diabetes professionals use A1C testing in addition to time in range (TIR) figures, which show how often your glucose levels stay within your individualized target range.

The takeaway

No magic number exists for “normal” glucose or blood sugar levels. While there are clinical guidelines on target goals for blood sugar levels and A1C tests, it’s important to remember that “Your Diabetes May Vary.”

Speak with a healthcare professional to best determine your glucose goals. More advanced diabetes technology like a CGM may also be a discussion point with a doctor to achieve ideal glucose levels and a healthy time-in-range.