It is important that those of us with diabetes are able to keep our blood glucose levels within target ranges.

Research shows that getting blood glucose under control helps to decrease the likelihood of developing diabetes complications and improve overall quality of life.

Normal and diabetic blood sugar ranges

For the majority of healthy individuals, normal blood sugar levels are as follows:

  • Normal blood glucose level in humans is about 70 to 109 mg/dL (3.9 to 6.0 mmol/L)
  • Shortly after a meal the blood glucose level may rise temporarily up to 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L)

For non-pregnant adults with diabetes, blood sugar level targets are as follows:

  • Before meals: 80 to 130 mg/dL (4.4 to 7.2 mmol/L)
  • After meals: under 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L)

Target levels

The following table details the target blood glucose levels for people with diabetes, as recommended under guidelines set by the American Diabetes Association.

Also included are the expected blood glucose values for people without diabetes, drawn from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

Test Adults
(non-pregnant)		 Children
Blood glucose levels
before meals		 80 to 130 mg/dL 80 to 130 mg/dL
Blood glucose levels
after meals		 Under 180 mg/dL Under 180 mg/dL
HbA1c 7.0% 7.5%
eAG 154 mg/dL 169 mg/dL

Note: Individual targets set by your healthcare team should take precedence over those in the table above.