Blood Sugar Level Range For Healthy People: 5 Essential Things to Know
Takeaways
There are 4 main blood glucose level tests: the hemoglobin A1C test, fasting blood sugar test, oral glucose tolerance test, and random blood sugar test.
Universal ideal blood sugar level ranges don’t exist. Instead, they can vary depending on factors like the type of test used, the time of detection, and the presence of underlying health conditions (e.g., pregnancy or diabetes).
Frequently monitoring your blood sugar levels may prevent the development of serious health issues.
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) could thus be a valuable tool in helping you optimize your glucose curve—and, in turn, overall wellbeing.
Maintaining an ideal blood sugar level range is crucial to reducing the risk of diabetes and heart disease. Most experts agree that healthy people should get their blood glucose levels tested once every 3 years (1).
That said, you might need more frequent tests if you have one or more of the following risks factors (2):
A family history of diabetes
Use of certain medicines that can cause blood sugar spikes
Obesity
Sedentary lifestyle
Age over 45
History of diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)
How Do You Find Your Blood Sugar Level?
There are several ways to monitor your blood glucose level. These tests help detect fluctuations in blood sugar in response to diet, exercise, medicines, or diseases that impair glucose metabolism.
Of all the factors listed above, your diet is arguably the most crucial factor in diabetes control. To that end, NOVI’s Diabetes Specialists and Dietitians have written an eBook packed with valuable, applicable tips on the everyday changes you could make to your diet for better sugar control. Check it out here.
The following tests may be used, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (3):
A1C Test
This test (also called the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test) measures your average blood glucose level over the last 2 or 3 months. The test—carried out in a doctor’s office or a lab—uses a blood sample obtained from a finger prick.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test (FBS)
This measures your blood glucose level after an overnight fast. Like the A1C test, it uses a blood sample obtained from a finger prick. However, your healthcare provider may sometimes use a needle to draw blood from a vein in your arm. Avoid eating or drinking (except water) for 8 to 12 hours before the test.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
This test measures your blood sugar 2 times: first, after an overnight fast, and second, 1 to 3 hours after you drink a sugary liquid.
Random Blood Sugar Test
As its name suggests, this test measures your blood sugar at a random time. It is also known as casual testing.
Glucose Screening Test
For this test, you will drink a glucose solution on an empty stomach and have your blood sugar checked 1 hour later. If your numbers are high, you will need to take a glucose tolerance test. It is a routine test during pregnancy.
Looking for a comprehensive health screening beyond blood tests for a healthier, happier life? Click here to learn more.
What Is the Ideal Blood Sugar Level Range?
The normal blood sugar level range varies depending on the type of test, the time of detection, and health conditions, such as pregnancy.
The ideal blood sugar level range for people without diabetes is (4, 5, 6):
| Test | Ideal Blood Sugar Level Range |
|---|---|
| A1C | Less than 5.7% |
| Fasting Blood Glucose | Less than 5.6 mmol/L (100 mg/dL) |
| Oral Glucose Tolerance | Less than 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) |
| Random Blood Sugar | Less than 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) |
Why Is Tracking Your Blood Sugar Level Crucial to Your Health?
“Both too much and too little sugar in the blood can have devastating consequences.”
Glucose—the main sugar in the blood—is your body’s primary source of energy. Your body uses glucose to provide nutrients to your organs, muscles, and nervous system.
Nonetheless, too much sugar in the blood (hyperglycemia) for prolonged periods can cause serious health issues. These include a higher risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disorder, vision problems, and nerve damage.
Likewise, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can result in a range of health problems, some of which may be fatal, including (7):
Excessive sweating
Pounding heartbeat
Problems with memory, thinking, and decision-making
Seizures
Coma
Death
Do I Have Diabetes if My Blood Sugar Level Is High?
Diabetes occurs when your pancreas produces no insulin (a hormone that carries sugar from the blood to the cells), or your cells fail to use insulin as they normally should.
Occasional sugar spikes do not always mean you have diabetes or prediabetes. In prediabetes, you have an elevated blood glucose level but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes.
That said, if you have frequent spikes, you should talk with your doctor. Then, your doctor will assess your risk factors and order a test to measure your blood glucose level. A blood sugar test is the only way to confirm diabetes.
| Test | Blood Sugar Level | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A1C | 5.7% to 6.4% | Prediabetes |
| 6.5% or higher | Diabetes | |
| Fasting Blood Glucose | 5.6 mmol/L to 6.9 mmol/L (100 mg/dL to 125 mg/dL) |
Prediabetes |
| 6.9 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) or higher | Diabetes | |
| Oral Glucose Tolerance | 7.8 mmol/L to 11.0 mmol/L (140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL) |
Prediabetes |
| 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or higher | Diabetes |
The number of individuals diagnosed with diabetes in Singapore is steadily increasing. According to a 2020 study, the percentage of people with diabetes in Singapore aged 18 to 69 increased from 7.3% in 1992 to 8.6% in 2017 (8).
Likewise, researchers at the Singapore General Hospital reveal that over 400,000 Singaporeans have diabetes. Worrying still, they project the number to surpass one million by 2050 (9). Similarly, 14% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 19 have prediabetes.
How Can a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) Help You Maintain a Healthy Blood Sugar Level Range?
Everyone’s blood sugar level fluctuates throughout the day. For example, you will likely have a blood sugar spike immediately after you drink a can of soda. Likewise, drops in the blood glucose level are common during or post-exercise.
Monitoring such fluctuations using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) allows you to understand how your body responds to food and physical activity. Thus, a CGM can be a valuable tool in helping you optimize your diet and activity level for peak mental or physical performance.
Deciding between a continuous glucose monitor and a glucometer? Click here to learn more about the differences between the two options.
A CGM may also help with the early diagnosis of diabetes or borderline diabetes (prediabetes). As with most diseases, early detection and intervention dramatically reduce the risk of complications.
Apart from diabetes screening, you may use a CGM to:
Enhance your physical activity
Improve dietary behavior
Regulate stress
Optimize athletic performance before, during, and after exercise
Interested in improving your glucose levels for better health? Purchase a continuous glucose sensor and see your glucose in real-time.
We’re also launching a new product that combines the sensor and a health review with one of our NOVI coaches. Sign-up for early access.