How much sugar is in the blood of people with diabetes? This is what blood sugar levels for diabetics tell us. Sugar, or glucose, is what the cells use for energy, but having too much or too little can be bad. People with diabetes have trouble keeping their blood sugar levels steady because they either don’t make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) or their body doesn’t use insulin well (type 2 diabetes). That’s why they need to check their blood sugar levels often and change their food, medicine, and activity based on the results.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) says that these are the normal blood sugar levels for most adults with diabetes³:
- Before eating: 80–130 mg/dL
- After eating: Less than 180 mg/dL
These numbers might be different for some people, depending on how old they are, how healthy they are, and what their diabetes goals are. For example, kids, pregnant people, and people with diabetes during pregnancy might have different numbers³.
Blood sugar levels that are too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia) can lead to serious problems, such as damage to the nerves, kidneys, eyes, heart, brain, and even death. Some signs of high blood sugar are feeling thirsty, peeing a lot, having a headache, and finding it hard to focus. Some signs of low blood sugar are feeling hungry, shaky, sweaty, dizzy, and confused⁴.
To avoid or fix high or low blood sugar levels, people with diabetes need to eat healthy, take their medicine as told, move their body regularly, and check their blood sugar levels a lot. They also need to be ready for an emergency, such as having a shot of glucagon or some sugar pills for low blood sugar, or calling a doctor for high blood sugar⁴.
Blood sugar levels for diabetics show how well they are taking care of their health. By keeping their blood sugar levels in the normal range, people with diabetes can lower the chance of problems and live better.
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