Blood sugar levels vary from person to person and depend on factors such as time since eating. Normal levels for non-diabetics are 70-100 mg/dL, rising to 70-145 mg/dL after eating. Pre-diabetes is indicated by levels of 100-125 mg/dL after fasting, and 140-199 mg/dL after eating. Diabetes is indicated by levels over 125 mg/dL after fasting, and over 200 mg/dL after an oral glucose test. Doctors diagnose diabetes after several tests, including fasting and oral glucose tests. Lifestyle changes can help prevent pre-diabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes.
The ideal blood sugar level varies from person to person and can depend on a variety of factors, including how long it has been since a person has eaten. In general, levels between 70 and 100 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) are considered normal for non-diabetics who have not just eaten. If a person has just eaten, the ideal blood glucose level should be between 70 and 145 mg/dL for non-diabetics. Levels above this could indicate diabetes or pre-diabetes.
A person who consistently has blood sugar levels ranging from 100 to 125 mg/dL after an eight-hour fast may have pre-diabetes. Levels of 140 to 199 mg/dL after eating or following an oral glucose test also indicate pre-diabetes. A person who is diagnosed with pre-diabetes is at great risk of developing type 2 diabetes and should immediately start taking steps to prevent it by making some lifestyle changes, such as improving eating habits and exercising. These changes can also help a person lose weight, which would be beneficial for those who are overweight and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Blood sugar levels that exceed 125 mg/dL after an eight-hour fast indicate diabetes. If levels rise above 200 mg/dL after an oral glucose test, diabetes is also likely present. The ideal blood sugar level for diabetics is higher than the normal level for non-diabetics. People with diabetes whose levels are between 80 and 120 mg/dL after fasting or just before eating are thought to have their blood sugar under control. The ideal blood sugar level for diabetics immediately after meals should generally not exceed 160 mg/dL.
Doctors typically don’t diagnose diabetes until several tests have been administered. It is important for doctors to be sure that blood sugar levels remain consistently high before making a definitive diagnosis. This is usually done using both fasting blood glucose tests and oral blood glucose tests. With a fasting test, a person’s blood sugar levels are checked first thing in the morning or right after an eight-hour fast. An oral glucose test is a test doctors use to see how much a person’s blood sugar rises after drinking a very sweet, sugary drink and then check the levels again a few hours later to see how much they drop. These tests are usually done at different times on different days so doctors can be certain that a person is testing well above the ideal blood sugar level before confirming diabetes.
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