Diabetes - What Should My Blood Sugar Levels Be?
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
For most people, good blood sugar levels are:
| On waking up (before breakfast) | 80 to 120 |
| Before meals | 80 to 120 |
| 2 hours after meals | 160 or less |
| At bedtime | 100 to 140 |
Ask your healthcare provider what your blood sugar levels should be. If you have diabetes, print
out this chart and record the blood sugar ranges that your doctor believes optimal for you.
| On waking up (before breakfast) | _______ to _______ |
| Before meals | _______ to _______ |
| 2 hours after meals | _______ or less |
| At bedtime | _______ or _______ |
You and your health care provider will agree on when to check blood sugar using a blood glucose meter. You will do the tests yourself. Be sure to ask your health care provider or diabetes assistant to teach you how to use the meter.
For additional information about diabetes, please visit the Diabetes Index.
(Source: National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, www.niddk.nih.gov)
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REFERENCES:
National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, (www.niddk.nih.gov)
Originally published 3/29/2002
Medically reviewed by John A. Daller, MD; American Board of Surgery with subspecialty certification in surgical critical care