Normal ranges for blood glucose

People who don’t have Diabetes or  Prediabetes keep their blood glucose between 60 – 100 mg/dl overnight and before meals, and less than 140 mg/dl after meals. Although the ultimate goal of diabetes management is to return the blood glucose to the natural or non-diabetic level, this may be difficult without excessive low blood glucose or hypoglycemia.

What are the blood glucose targets for Diabetes?

The ultimate treatment goal for Type 1 Diabetes is to re-create normal (non-diabetic) or NEARLY normal blood glucose levels – without causing low blood glucose. Good blood glucose control requires that you know and understand a few general numbers. The numbers measure how much glucose is in your blood at certain times of the day and represent what the American Diabetes Association believes are the best ranges to prevent complications.

ADA (American Diabetes Association) Guidelines for blood glucose control

A1C*	<7%
Before meal Glucose Level	80-130 mg/dl
After Meal Glucose level	<80 mg/dl

*Hemoglobin (A1c) is a measure of your average blood glucose trends over the previous 3 months. Think of the A1c as a long-term blood glucose measure that changes very gradually.

Of course, these are general standards for everyone with Diabetes - both Type 1 as well as Type 2. Ask your Diabetes team for personalized goals and blood glucose monitoring schedules.

For example: When you have Type 1 Diabetes you are treated with insulin replacement therapy. The goal is to replace the insulin in the right amount and at the right time.  Sometimes, more insulin than needed is taken and this will cause hypoglycemia. To minimize this risk, many providers will recommend that individuals treated with insulin target a pre-meal blood glucose of 80-130 mg/dl and post meal blood glucose  of less than 180 mg/dl.

Also, if you are experiencing a lot of hypoglycemia or have hypoglycemic unawareness your provider may suggest you target higher blood glucose levels. In contrast, pregnant women or women thinking about getting pregnant will have lower blood glucose targets.

To find out how your blood glucose specifically responds to your treatment plan, check your blood glucose at different times throughout the day. Good times to check include before meals and snacks, at bedtime and whenever you feel “low” or sense that your blood glucose may be off target. Blood glucose checks also are a good idea when you are sick or changing activity. The number of blood glucose checks a day depends upon your individual situation, but most people with Type 1 Diabetes need to check at least 4-6 times a day or weat a continuous glucose monitor (cgm), individuals treated an insulin pump usually need to check more frequently.

Get smart about your blood glucose: Check it regularly!