What Are The Normal Range For Blood Sugar?

Normal ranges of blood sugar in people without diabetes

With someone without any type of diabetes, blood sugar ranges are generally between 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) fasting and under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) after a meal.

For a person without any type of diabetes, blood sugar levels are generally between 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) fasting and under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) after a meal.

Your blood glucose (sugar) levels are a critical part of your overall health and your body’s ability to function properly.

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 people without diabetes and recommended blood sugar goals for people with pre-diabetes, type 1 diabetes, and type 2 diabetes.

Blood Sugar during fasting (e.g., In the Morning Before Eating)	Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L)
After a Meal(1 to 2 Hours)	Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)
After a Meal(2 to 3 Hours)	Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L)

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), normal blood sugar levels for people without diabetes are typically 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L) fasting, with after-meal levels generally not exceeding 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L).

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that, in general, people with diabetes target fasting blood sugar levels between 80 to 130 mg/dL (4.4 to 7.2 mmol/L) and aim to keep their after-meal levels below 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L).

Prediabetes and diabetes are diagnosed based on various criteria, including fasting blood sugar levels and A1c results, with prediabetes indicated by an A1c of 5.7 to 6.4 percent and diabetes by an A1c of 6.5 percent or higher.

Managing diabetes goes beyond just taking medications, requiring careful monitoring of blood sugar levels to avoid complications like neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy. Achieving an A1c at or below 7.0 percent is generally recommended to minimize these risks.

Individualized blood sugar targets and A1c goals are crucial, with the understanding that blood sugar levels are influenced by more than just diet and exercise, including hormonal changes, illness, and stress.

The generally recommended blood sugar ranges for a person with diabetes according to the ADA:

Blood Sugar during fasting (e.g., In the Morning Before Eating)	80 to 130 mg/dL (4.4 to 7.2 mmol/L)
After a Meal(1 to 2 Hours)	Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L)
After a Meal(2 to 3 Hours)	Less than 110 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L)