Normal blood sugar (blood glucose) levels change throughout the day and night. Levels depend on when, what, and how much you eat, and whether you have exercised.
In nondiabetics, normal blood sugar levels are:
| Fasting/upon waking and before meals | 80 to 99 mg/dL |
| After meals/before bed | 80 to 140 mg/dL |
| In general | 70 to 140 mg/dl |
What Is a Normal Blood Sugar Level for a Diabetic?
For adults who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and children who have type 1 diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are:
| Fasting/upon waking and before meals | 80 to 130 mg/dL |
| After meals/before bed | 180 mg/dL |
For pregnant women who have pre-existing diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are:
| Fasting/upon waking and before meals | 60 to 99 mg/dL |
| After meals/before bed | 100 to 129 mg/dL |
For pregnant women who have gestational diabetes, normal blood sugar levels are:
| Fasting/upon waking and before meals | less than 96 mg/dL |
| After meals/before bed | less than 120 mg/dL |
What Are Symptoms of High Blood Sugar?
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which commonly affects people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, means that a person has high levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. A high blood sugar level is above 130mg/dL when fasting, waking up first thing in the morning, or before a meal, or above 180mg/dL after meals or before bed.
Symptoms of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include:
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Increased hunger
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Weight loss
What Are Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar?
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) means that a person's sugar (glucose) level in the blood gets too low, usually below 70 mg/dL.
Early symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can include:
- Hunger
- Shaking/trembling
- Sweating
- Fast heartbeat
- Feeling worried
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Irritability
- Dizziness
When left untreated, low blood sugar can cause severe symptoms, such as:
How Can I Manage Blood Sugar Levels?
Ways to help keep blood sugar levels in check include:
- A healthy diet
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
- Choose foods low in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar, and salt
- Drink water instead of juice or soda
- Limit alcohol
- Choose fruit for dessert
- Exercise regularly
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Control food portions
- Eat at regular times, and don’t skip meals
- Track food, drink, and exercise
- Monitor blood sugar levels if you are diabetic to see what makes them change
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