It is important to maintain your blood sugar, or glucose, levels in a healthy range so that you prevent diabetes or control the condition if you already have it. A healthy range for blood glucose varies depending on your situation, so talk to your doctor about goals for your blood glucose. Changes in your diet or exercise patterns or medications may also be worth considering.
Normal and Pre-Diabetic Ranges
According to Medline Plus, a normal value for your fasting blood glucose is less than about 100 mg per dl, but different labs set different levels. The National Diabetes Education Program states that you have pre-diabetes, or an increased risk for diabetes, if your fasting glucose is 100 to 125 mg per dl or if your blood sugar is 140 to 199 mg per dl 2 hours after you consume 75 g of sugar. Hemoglobin A1C is a blood test that your doctor can do to check your average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months, and a pre-diabetic range is 5.7 to 6.4 percent.
Diagnosis of Diabetes
The National Diabetes Education Program states that you have diabetes if you have a fasting blood glucose level of at least 126 mg per dl on two separate occasions. Another way to diagnose diabetes is if your hemoglobin A1C is more than 6.5 percent, or if your random glucose levels are greater than 200 mg per dl while you have other symptoms of diabetes, such as weight loss, frequent urination or excessive thirst. Once you develop diabetes, it is important to try to keep your blood glucose levels under control to prevent complications such as blindness, foot amputation or kidney disease.
Goals for Diabetes Management
MayoClinic.com states that if you have diabetes, you may need to test your blood sugar levels at least 1 to 3 times per day, depending on your insulin doses and your schedule. Your doctor can give you goals for a healthy glucose range when you are testing your own levels. Your fasting blood sugar should be about 90 to 130 mg per dl, your blood sugar before meals should be about 70 to 130 mg per dl and after meals, a healthy range for you may be less than 180 mg per dl.
Other Important Numbers
According to the National Diabetes Education Program, a hemoglobin A1C target for individuals with diabetes is less than 7. Diabetes increases your risk for heart disease, so it is important to control your blood pressure and cholesterol, too. Blood pressure should be under 130/80, and LDL cholesterol in your blood should be under 100. If you have diabetes or are concerned about your blood sugar levels with your doctor to develop the best program to help you stay healthy.
