What Should My Blood Sugar Be?

Reviewed by the JForH team · 2026-10-30

For many adults with diabetes, the American Diabetes Association suggests a blood sugar of 80–130 mg/dL before meals and under 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal starts, with an A1C below 7%. For people without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar is under 100 mg/dL. Below 70 mg/dL is low and should be treated right away.

Blood sugar targets at a glance

The right number depends on whether you have diabetes, when you check, and your overall health. This table shows the common goals for many adults with diabetes who are not pregnant, from the ADA Standards of Care and the International Consensus on Time in Range. Your own goals may be different, so check them with your care team.

When or what	Common goal for many adults with diabetes
Fasting or before meals	80–130 mg/dL (4.4–7.2 mmol/L)
1–2 hours after the start of a meal	Under 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L)
A1C (about a 3-month average)	Under 7%
CGM time in range (70–180 mg/dL)	More than 70% of the day (about 17 hours)
CGM time below 70 mg/dL	Less than 4% of the day (about 1 hour)
CGM time below 54 mg/dL	Less than 1% of the day (about 15 minutes)
CGM time above 180 mg/dL	Less than 25% of the day

What is a normal blood sugar level for someone without diabetes?

For people who do not have diabetes, doctors use lab tests with set cutoffs. These are the ADA and CDC ranges used to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes in adults:

Test	Normal	Prediabetes	Diabetes
Fasting blood sugar (no food for at least 8 hours)	Under 100 mg/dL	100–125 mg/dL	126 mg/dL or higher
2 hours into an oral glucose tolerance test	Under 140 mg/dL	140–199 mg/dL	200 mg/dL or higher
A1C	Under 5.7%	5.7%–6.4%	6.5% or higher

These are diagnostic numbers measured in a lab, not targets for daily checks. A single high reading on a home meter does not mean you have diabetes. The ADA says a diagnosis usually needs two abnormal results, unless there are clear symptoms of very high blood sugar. A random blood sugar of 200 mg/dL or higher with classic symptoms, such as strong thirst and passing a lot of urine, also points to diabetes.

What should fasting blood sugar be?

If you do not have diabetes, a fasting blood sugar under 100 mg/dL is normal. If you have diabetes, the ADA suggests 80–130 mg/dL before breakfast and other meals for many adults. Fasting means no food or drinks with calories for at least 8 hours, so the first reading of the morning is usually the one to use.

What should blood sugar be 2 hours after eating?

For many adults with diabetes, the ADA suggests keeping the peak after a meal under 180 mg/dL. Check 1 to 2 hours after you take the first bite, not after you finish eating. After-meal checks are most useful when your before-meal numbers are on target but your A1C is still above goal. In the lab glucose tolerance test used for diagnosis, a 2-hour value under 140 mg/dL is normal.

What A1C should I aim for?

For many adults with diabetes, the ADA suggests an A1C below 7%, which equals an estimated average blood sugar of about 154 mg/dL. The goal is set with you. Some people can safely aim lower; others need a higher goal to stay safe from lows. Use our A1C calculator to see what your A1C means as an average.

What is time in range on a CGM?

A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is a small sensor that checks your sugar every few minutes, day and night. Time in range is the share of readings between 70 and 180 mg/dL. The International Consensus on Time in Range (Battelino and colleagues, Diabetes Care, 2019), which the ADA follows, set these goals for most adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: more than 70% in range, less than 4% below 70 mg/dL, less than 1% below 54 mg/dL, and less than 25% above 180 mg/dL. The ADA suggests reviewing about 14 days of CGM data at a time.

Are blood sugar targets different for older adults?

Yes. The ADA section on older adults sets goals by overall health rather than age. Looser goals help prevent low blood sugar, which can lead to falls, confusion and hospital stays.

Overall health	A1C	Before meals	At bedtime	CGM
Healthy: few other long-term illnesses, memory and daily activities intact	Under 7.0–7.5%	80–130 mg/dL	80–180 mg/dL	70% or more in range; 4% or less below 70
Complex or intermediate: several long-term illnesses, trouble with everyday tasks, or mild to moderate memory problems	Under 8.0%	90–150 mg/dL	100–180 mg/dL	50% or more in range; under 1% below 70
Very complex or poor health: long-term care, end-stage illness, or moderate to severe memory problems	Do not rely on A1C	100–180 mg/dL	110–200 mg/dL	No set goal

What is a low blood sugar level?

The ADA groups low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) into three levels:

Level	Blood sugar	What it means
Level 1	Under 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) and 54 mg/dL or higher	Low. Treat it now.
Level 2	Under 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L)	Very low. Needs quick treatment.
Level 3	Any number	Severe: you are confused or cannot treat yourself and need help from someone else.

Signs of low blood sugar tend to come on quickly. They can include feeling shaky, hungry, tired, dizzy or irritable, a headache, a fast or uneven heartbeat, confusion, and trouble seeing or speaking clearly. Some people, especially after repeated lows, stop feeling these warning signs. Being 65 or older also raises the risk of lows, according to the NIDDK.

What should I do if my blood sugar is low?

The CDC and ADA recommend the 15-15 rule for a low under 70 mg/dL when you are awake and able to swallow:

Have 15 grams of fast-acting sugar. The ADA says glucose (tablets or gel) is preferred. The CDC also lists half a cup (4 ounces) of juice or regular, non-diet soda, or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey.
Wait 15 minutes, then check your blood sugar again.
If it is still under 70 mg/dL, repeat.
Once you are back in range, eat a snack or meal with protein and carbohydrates so it does not drop again.

If someone has passed out, has a seizure, or cannot swallow safely, do not put food or drink in their mouth. Glucagon, given as a shot or nasal spray, is the best treatment for a severe low; family members can be taught to give it. Call 911 right after giving glucagon, or right away if there is none. The ADA recommends a glucagon prescription for everyone who takes insulin or is at high risk of lows.

When should I call my doctor about my blood sugar?

You have had a low under 70 mg/dL more than once, or any low under 54 mg/dL, or a low you did not feel coming.
Your readings are often above the goals you agreed with your care team, or your A1C is above goal.
You are sick, not eating normally, or have started a new medicine, and your numbers have changed.
A home or pharmacy test shows a high reading and you have never been told you have diabetes. Ask for a lab test to check.

Get emergency help for a severe low, or for high blood sugar with vomiting, trouble breathing, confusion or extreme drowsiness.

This guide is for education and does not replace advice from your own doctor.

Convert your A1C to average sugar

Common questions

What is a normal blood sugar level?

For adults without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar is under 100 mg/dL, and a 2-hour value in a glucose tolerance test is under 140 mg/dL. Fasting 100–125 mg/dL is prediabetes and 126 mg/dL or higher is in the diabetes range.

What should blood sugar be 2 hours after eating?

For many adults with diabetes, the ADA suggests under 180 mg/dL, measured 1 to 2 hours after the start of the meal. For people without diabetes, a 2-hour glucose tolerance test result under 140 mg/dL is normal.

What should my blood sugar be when I wake up?

With diabetes, the ADA suggests 80–130 mg/dL before breakfast for many adults. Without diabetes, a normal fasting level is under 100 mg/dL.

Is 140 a good blood sugar level?

It depends on timing. After a meal, 140 mg/dL is within the ADA's under-180 goal for people with diabetes. As a fasting number it is above the 80–130 mg/dL goal, and in someone without diabetes a fasting 126 mg/dL or higher is in the diabetes range.

What blood sugar level is too low?

Under 70 mg/dL is low and should be treated with the 15-15 rule. Under 54 mg/dL is very low. Any low where you need someone else's help is severe.

What is the 15-15 rule?

For a low under 70 mg/dL, have 15 grams of fast-acting sugar, such as glucose tablets or 4 ounces of juice, wait 15 minutes and recheck. Repeat until you are above 70 mg/dL, then eat a snack or meal.

What should blood sugar be for seniors?

The ADA sets goals by health, not age. Healthy older adults often aim for 80–130 mg/dL before meals and an A1C under 7.0–7.5%, while those with several illnesses or memory problems may aim for 90–150 mg/dL and an A1C under 8.0%.

What is a good time in range on a CGM?

For most adults with diabetes, the goal is more than 70% of readings between 70 and 180 mg/dL and less than 4% below 70 mg/dL. Older adults with complex health may aim for 50% or more in range and under 1% below 70 mg/dL.

Can I tell if I have diabetes from a home meter?

No. Home meters and CGMs are not used to diagnose diabetes. If you get a high reading, ask your doctor for a lab test such as fasting plasma glucose or A1C.

Sources

Last updated: 2026-10-30. Educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your treatment.