Blood sugar, or glucose, is what your body’s cells use for energy. It is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). The normal range of blood sugar levels changes depending on many things, such as your age, health condition, and if you have diabetes or not.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that the general blood sugar goals for adults with diabetes are¹:
- 80 to 130 mg/dL before eating
- Less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after eating
These are good ranges to aim for, but your own goals may be different based on what you want and need. You should talk to your doctor and diabetes care team to find out what is best for you.
If you do not have diabetes, your blood sugar levels are usually controlled by your hormones, especially insulin. The normal range of blood sugar levels for people without diabetes is²:
- 70 to 99 mg/dL before eating
- Less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating
- Below 95 mg/dL when fasting (not eating anything)
Keeping your blood sugar levels in the normal range is important for your overall health and happiness. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can make you feel thirsty, pee a lot, have a headache, and lose focus. It can also cause serious problems, such as nerve damage, kidney damage, eye problems, and more risk of heart disease and stroke.
Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can make you feel hungry, shaky, sweaty, dizzy, and confused. It can also be very dangerous if not fixed quickly, as it can make you have seizures, coma, and even die.
To take care of your blood sugar levels well, you should check them often, eat healthy food, exercise, take your medicine as told, and stay calm. You should also know how to spot and fix high and low blood sugar if they happen.
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