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What Is a Safe Blood Sugar Level on Tests?

Doctors use the A1C and blood glucose tests to monitor your blood sugar levels. If results are not normal, it may be a sign of diabetes which can eventually lead to severe complications or death.

  1. Time Frame

    • The A1C test measures your blood sugar levels for the past 60 to 90 days. All other blood glucose tests measure the amount of sugar in the blood at the moment it's drawn.

    Methods

    • For both the A1C and blood glucose test, your blood is drawn at a lab. Although the A1C test does not require fasting, most doctors recommend fasting for the blood glucose test.

    Results

    • According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal blood sugar result while fasting is between 70 to 100 mg/dl. On the A1C test, the normal range varies from lab to lab, but it is usually less than a 7.0.

    Significance

    • Doctors usually diagnose prediabetes with fasting blood sugar levels between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl. If fasting blood glucose levels are above 125 mg/dl, doctors generally diagnose diabetes.

    Treatment

    • If your blood sugar is higher than normal, doctors recommend diabetes medication, exercise and a healthy diet depending on the severity of your high blood sugar.

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