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10
Jan
Jan
Health
Blood Sugar Charts: Target Levels
A blood glucose or blood sugar chart classifies the ideal blood sugar levels throughout the day, including before and after meals. Blood sugar charts help those with diabetes to self-monitor sugar levels and accordingly calculate their blood sugar test results.
Monitoring blood sugar levels is undoubtedly a crucial part of managing diabetes.
Most of the blood sugar charts show recommended levels as a range, thus allowing for differences among individual people.
The following blood sugar charts have been taken as a reference from The American Diabetes Association (ADA), Joslin Diabetes Center (JDC), and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
Time of check | Blood sugar levels for those without diabetes | Target blood sugar levels for those with diabetes |
| Fasting (before breakfast) | less than 100 mg/dL | 80 – 130 mg/dL (ADA) 70-130 mg/dL (JDC) less than 110 (AACE) |
| Before meals | less than 110 mg/dL | 70-130 mg/dL (JDC) |
| 2 hrs. After meal 1-2 hrs. After meal | less than 140 mg/dL | less than 180 mg/dL (ADA & JDC) less than 140 (AACE) |
| Bedtime | less than 120 mg/dL | between 90 – 150 mg/dL (JDC) |
| A1C levels | less than 5.7 percent | less than 7 percent |
Blood Sugar Meter Readings
Obviously, Blood Sugar readings vary from person to person. A good blood sugar level for one person may be high or low for another.
Blood sugar level | Excellent | Good | Acceptable |
| Before meal | 72 – 109 mg/dL | 110 – 144 mg/dL | 145 – 180 mg/dL |
| 2 hours after meal | 90 – 126 mg/dL | 127 – 180 mg/dL | 181 – 234 mg/dL |
Gestational Diabetes Levels
For women suffering from gestational diabetes, the blood sugar recommendations are different from people with Type 1 and Type 2.
Time of check | Blood sugar level in mg/dL |
| Fasting or before breakfast | 60 – 90 mg/dL |
| Before meals | 60 – 90 mg/dL |
| 1 hour after meal | 100 – 120 mg/dL |
People with high as well as low blood sugar should be worried.
Fasting blood sugar level | Risk level and suggested action |
| 50 mg/dL or less | Dangerously low, Undoubtedly need medical attention. |
| 70 – 90 mg/dL | Possibly too low, basically an indication to increase sugar consumption, if experiencing symptoms of low blood sugar. Also better to consult a doctor. |
| 90-120 mg/dL | Normal range, generally no need to worry. |
| 120-160 mg/dL | Medium, This basically suggest that it is better to see a doctor. |
| 160 – 240 mg/dL | Significantly too high. Steps to lower blood sugar levels are certainly needed. |
| 240-300 mg/dL | Unquestionably Too high, a sign of out of control diabetes, Obviously a visit to the doctor should be on priority list. |
| 300 mg/dL or above | Indeed very very high. Without a doubt, seek immediate medical attention. |
Diabetes is becoming common amongst children and especially among young adults. As a parent, you need to know the normal as well as acceptable range of blood sugar levels in children.
Age of Child (Years) | Before Meals | Bedtime/Overnight | A1C Test |
| Under 6 years | 100-180 mg/dl | 110-200 mg/dl | 7.5% – 8.5% |
| 6 to 12 years | 90-180 mg/dl | 100-180 mg/dl | Less than 8% |
| 13 to 18 years | 90-130 mg/dl | 90-150 mg/dl | Less than 7.5% |
There is always a way to control and reduce blood sugar levels as long as the levels have not reached the critical stages.