What Is a Normal Reading on a Blood Glucose Meter?

Everyone needs to strive for normal blood sugar levels. If your blood glucose levels remain high for an extended period of time, it can cause diabetes and complications such as neuropathy, heart disease and even death.

Considerations

• The best time to take a reading with a blood glucose meter is right after waking up in the morning. Most recommendations for blood sugar levels assume you've been fasting for a few hours, such as after sleeping the previous night.

Normal

• According to the American Diabetes Association, a normal reading on a blood glucose meter is between 70 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) and 100 mg/dl.

Effects

• If your blood sugar levels are between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl, you're considered to have prediabetes. If your blood glucose levels are above 125 mg/dl, doctors usually diagnose diabetes.

Warning

• If your blood sugar level is below 70 mg/dl, you may have low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Eating sugary items such as regular soda or candy usually resolves hypoglycemia. If it doesn't, seek medical help immediately.

Solution

• If you're diagnosed with prediabetes or diabetes, doctors often recommend exercise, weight loss, diabetes medication and a healthy diet to help lower your high blood sugar to normal levels.