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4 days ago · Learn what blood sugar is, how it's tested and why it matters for your health. Find out the normal ranges of blood sugar levels by age group and the signs of unbalanced blood sugar.
- Overview
- What should your glucose levels be?
- Why do blood sugars matter in diabetes?
- What is a normal blood sugar level?
- Is A1C supposed to be the same as my blood sugar average?
- Bottom line
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Your blood sugar goal can vary depending on whether you have diabetes, the type of diabetes you have, and whether you are pregnant.
Keeping track of your blood sugar is a key part of diabetes management. Whether those glucose levels are checked with a fingerstick meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), it’s an important part of daily life with this condition, along with the future possibility of diabetes-related complications.
But just what is considered “normal” when it comes to blood sugar levels?
Diabetes is different for everyone, meaning that target goals will vary for each person and those goals will depend on many different factors. While this is an area to consult with your diabetes care team about, the medical community has guidance on what certain people should strive for in blood glucose levels.
There’s no magic number for your blood sugar. However, many people with diabetes strive to keep their glucose levels under 140 mg/dL on average.
Many authorities — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) — explain glucose levels and what people with diabetes should work toward achieving, at a high level. The 2022 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.
Importantly, the ADA changed its glucose level guidance in 2015 to reflect a change in thinking about overtreating and hypoglycemia concerns. The lowest target had been 70 mg/dL. Still, a study at the time determined that adults, children, and those who are older might be more prone to overtreating — especially if they use varying doses of insulin or glucose-lowering medications.
As with all aspects of diabetes management, these guidelines are used as a starting point by the medical community. One’s individual goals may vary, based on your personal needs. Make sure to consult with your doctor and diabetes care team to determine what may be best for you.
A key part of managing diabetes involves checking blood sugars, or glucose levels.
In type 1 diabetes (T1D), a person’s pancreas does not produce the insulin they need. In type 2 diabetes (T2D), the body may not make or use insulin correctly anymore.
For either T1D or T2D, ensuring glucose levels stay as level as possible is the goal. Sometimes insulin or diabetes medications are used based on the type of diabetes and personal needs. Many factors affect glucose levels, including food, exercise, insulin, medications, stress, etc.
Glucose level targets may vary for everyone based on their unique needs.
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.
However, this terminology is flawed because even people without diabetes do see blood sugar spikes, especially after eating and when consuming something with high amounts of sugar, or a complex carbohydrate like pizza or pasta.
Even though that person’s body will immediately start working to counterbalance that rising glucose level by producing more insulin, their blood sugars may still spike for a brief time even beyond those “normal” ranges. The same can happen with intense exercise or in high-stress situations if the person’s natural glucose metabolizing cannot quickly balance everything out.
For those with diabetes, the fact that our bodies don’t make or use insulin correctly means we must manually keep tabs on blood sugar levels and take enough insulin — or glucose-lowering medication — to balance everything out.
A1C measures your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.
You can have your A1C measured with a blood draw in your doctor’s office or lab. Some doctors can also perform a fingerstick blood test to check your A1C level.
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. Your A1C result will give you an indication of what percentage of your hemoglobin is bound to sugar.
•Standard (no diabetes): Less than 5.7%
•Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.5%
•Diabetes: 6.5% or higher
Glucose management is an important part of diabetes management. 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.”
You should consult your endocrinologist and diabetes care team to best determine your glucose goals, based on your personal care plan. A more advanced diabetes technology like a CGM may also be a discussion point with your doctor in achieving ideal glucose levels and a healthy time in range.
Learn what normal blood sugar levels are for people with and without diabetes, and how to achieve them. Find out how factors like food, exercise, insulin, and stress affect your glucose levels and what language to use when talking about them.
Jan 16, 2024 · Learn how to test your blood sugar levels with a meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and what your target range should be. Find out how often and when to test your blood sugar depending on your type of diabetes and treatment plan.
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Jan 18, 2024 · Learn what blood sugar is, how it connects to diabetes, and what levels are normal and high. Find out the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and complications of high blood sugar, and how to check and control it.
Jun 7, 2022 · Learn the recommended blood sugar ranges for adults, children, pregnant people, and people without diabetes. Find out how to monitor, lower, or raise your blood sugar levels and what A1C means.
Mar 27, 2024 · Learn how diabetes is diagnosed and treated based on blood sugar levels and other factors. Find out about different types of diabetes, tests, medications, insulin, diet and exercise.
Mar 6, 2024 · Learn about blood glucose, the main sugar in your blood that provides energy for your body. Find out how to check your blood glucose levels, what targets to aim for, and how to manage high or low blood glucose.
Ads
related to: blood sugar levelsPersonalized Diabetes Management Platform. For Adults. Discover How Tempo Supports Diabetes Self-Management.
Discover the MOA for an Innovative Treatment for Appropriate Patients with T1D. Read Clinical Trial Data. Find Patient Support, Copay Enrollment & Additional Resources.
Learn About a Treatment Option to Help Patients Uncontrolled on OADs. Read About Treatment that May Help Patients Struggling with A1C.
