Blood Sugar: The Best Interpretation of Target Levels For Adults And Children
Summary
Blood sugar, or glucose, is the main sugar found in your blood. It comes from the food you eat and is your body’s primary energy source. Your blood carries glucose to all of your body’s cells for energy.
Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. Even if you don’t have diabetes, sometimes you may have issues with low blood sugar or high blood sugar. Keeping a regular schedule of eating, activity, and taking any medicines you need can help.
If you do have diabetes, it is vital to keep your blood sugar numbers in your target range. You may need to check your blood sugar several times each day. Your health care provider will also do a blood test called an A1C. It checks your average blood sugar level over the past three months. If your blood sugar is too high, you may need to take medicines and/or follow a special diet.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
General target levels
Normal blood sugar levels for adults, or general blood sugar target levels, are as follows:
| Target blood sugar levels for people without diabetes | Target blood sugar levels for people with diabetes | |
| Before meals | 72–99 mg/dl | 80–130 mg/dl |
| 2 hours after a meal | less than 140 mg/dl | less than 180 mg/dl |
A1C levels
An A1C test measures a person’s average blood sugar levels over 3 months. It can show if glucose management strategies are working over time.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)Trusted Source, a person’s A1C results may be as follows:
| A1C level | |
| A person without diabetes | below 5.7% |
| A person with prediabetes | 5.7–6.4% |
| A person with diabetes | 6.5% or over |
A doctor will need to carry out two tests to diagnose diabetes unless the person shows clear signs of the condition.
Blood sugar charts for children
Ideal blood sugar levels vary at different ages. Based on Nationwide Children’s Hospital data, the following chart shows the ideal levels for children aged 0–10 and over.
| Blood sugar levels in mg/dl | |
| 0–5 years | 100–180 |
| 6–9 years | 80–140 |
| 10 years and over | 70–120 |
Using information from Diabetes UK, the following chart gives a rough idea of how a child’s blood sugar levels may vary during the day. However, they do not differentiate by age. A doctor will advise on levels that are suitable for the individual.
| Blood sugar levels in mg/dl | |
| On waking | 72–126 |
| Before meals | 72–126 |
| 2 hours after a meal | 90–162 |
Experts note that strict adherence to complex blood sugar targets is not always the best approach, especially for children. However, if the benefits outweigh the risks, parents may find that a doctor provides more straightforward guidelines for children than adults.
Blood sugar chart for teens
The following are average guideline levels for teens, but people should ask a doctor for individual recommendations.
| Blood sugar levels in mg/dl | |
| Before meals | 72–108 |
| 2 hours after a meal | up to 180 |
People with gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy. Often, it is a temporary condition, but it can lead to pregnancy complications.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that people with a diagnosis of gestational diabetes aim for blood sugar levels similar to those for people without diabetes, although individual targets may vary.
The ADA offers the following as a guideline:
| Blood sugar level | |
| Before a meal | 95 mg/dl or less |
| 1 hour after a meal | 140 mg/dl or less |
| 2 hours after a meal | 120 mg/dl or less |
Guidelines
A doctor will advise the individual on what to do if blood sugar levels are not within the blood sugar normal range.
A doctor may recommend higher blood sugar targets for a person with diabetes than someone who doesn’t have diabetes.
Target levels vary throughout the day. They tend to be lower before eating and after exercise and higher an hour or so after meals.
When working out a person’s glucose targets, a doctor will consider individual factors, such as:
- age and life expectancy
- the presence of other health conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease
- how long a person has had diabetes
- problems with the smallest arteries in the body
- any known damage to the eyes, kidneys, blood vessels, brain, or heart
- personal habits and lifestyle factors
- how aware a person is of low blood sugar levels
- stress
Blood sugar charts often show recommended levels as a range, allowing for differences between individuals.
Why is diabetes more common in Black Americans? Find out here.
Managing blood sugar levels
Some actions can help adjust glucose levels if they are slightly high or low.
Raising low blood sugar
A person with very low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, may notice the following symptoms:
- feeling shaky or jittery
- being hungry or tired
- feeling dizzy or lightheaded
- confusion
- changes in heart rhythm
- headache
- difficulty seeing or speaking
If these symptoms occur, the NIDDK advises people to:
- Check their glucose levels.
- Consume something containing 15–20Trusted Source grams of glucose or carbohydrates.
- Wait 15 minutes.
- Recheck glucose levels.
- Repeat if levels are still low.
If levels remain low, the person should seek medical advice. If the individual loses consciousness, someone should seek emergency medical help.
Lowering high blood sugar
High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia and may lead to:
- thirst
- weakness or tiredness
- headaches
- frequent urination
- blurred vision
Exercising may help. If high levels persist, the person should speak to a doctor as they may need to adjust their treatment plan.
A person should also contact a doctor if high or low blood sugar symptoms are severe, as they may need emergency medical attention.
What is a diabetic emergency, and what action should a person take?
Monitoring levels
Monitoring blood sugar levels is an important part of diabetes management. A monitoring plan may include:
- tests in a doctor’s office
- a fingerprick test
- using a CGM device, which monitors glucose levels throughout the day
Typical times a person will check their levels include:
- before meals
- before bedtime
- on noticing symptoms
People may also do additional testing:
- before, during, and after exercise
- during the night
- when unwell
- after adjustments to their treatment plan
The frequency of testing will vary according to the type and stage of diabetes and individual factors. A doctor will advise the person on how often to test and when.
