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Diabetes: Blood Sugar Readings
What is a blood sugar reading?
A blood sugar reading shows how much sugar,
or glucose, is in your blood. A test of your blood
sugar may be done to:
•
Check for diabetes.
•
See how well diabetes treatment is working.
•
Check for diabetes that occurs during
pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
•
Check for low or high blood sugar levels
(hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia).
What are normal blood sugar
readings?
There are several types of blood sugar tests.
Normal results can vary from lab to lab.
Talk with your doctor about what any
abnormal results might mean, and
about any symptoms and other health
problems you have.
Normal values for adults who do NOT
have prediabetes or diabetes
Less than or equal
to 100
When you have not
eaten (fasting blood
sugar):
Less than 140 if
you are age 50 or
younger; less than
150 if you are age
50 to 60; less than
160 if you are age
60 and older
2 hours after eating
(postprandial):
Levels vary
depending on when
and how much you
ate at your last
meal. In general: 80
to 120 before meals
or when waking up;
100 to 140 at
bedtime.
Random (casual):
Target values for nonpregnant adults
who have prediabetes or diabetes
80 to 130When you have not
eaten (fasting blood
sugar):
Less than 1802 hours after eating
(postprandial):
What causes abnormal blood
sugar?
High blood sugar can be caused by:
•
Diabetes or prediabetes.
•
Certain medicines, such as corticosteroids.
Low blood sugar can be caused by: