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Primespan Stats
Fasting, after-meal and HbA1c values for adults in mg/dL and mmol/L, based on the diagnostic criteria of the American Diabetes Association (ADA Standards of Care, 2026).
Evidence-based · ADA Standards of Care 2026 · Both units · Free
| Test | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose (mg/dL) | < 100 | 100-125 | ≥ 126 |
| Fasting glucose (mmol/L) | < 5.6 | 5.6-6.9 | ≥ 7.0 |
| 2 hours after 75 g glucose (mg/dL) | < 140 | 140-199 | ≥ 200 |
| 2 hours after 75 g glucose (mmol/L) | < 7.8 | 7.8-11.0 | ≥ 11.1 |
| HbA1c (%) | < 5.7 | 5.7-6.4 | ≥ 6.5 |
| HbA1c (mmol/mol) | < 39 | 39-47 | ≥ 48 |
Laboratory plasma glucose, non-pregnant adults. A diagnosis needs two abnormal results, from the same sample or from two separate tests, unless blood sugar is unequivocally high. A random value of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher together with classic symptoms such as strong thirst and frequent urination also counts as diabetes.
| Measure (continuous sensor) | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Average glucose, up to age 60 | 98-99 mg/dL (5.4-5.5 mmol/L) |
| Average glucose, over age 60 | 104 mg/dL (5.8 mmol/L) |
| Time between 70 and 140 mg/dL (3.9-7.8 mmol/L) | 96% of the day |
| Time above 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) | 2.1%, about 30 minutes a day |
| Time below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) | 1.1%, about 15 minutes a day |
| Glucose variability (coefficient of variation) | 17% |
Medians and means from 153 healthy, non-obese participants aged 7 to 80 who wore a blinded continuous glucose sensor for up to 10 days (Shah et al., 2019).
| Measure | Common target |
|---|---|
| Before meals | 80-130 mg/dL (4.4-7.2 mmol/L) |
| Peak after meals (1 to 2 hours after starting) | under 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) |
| HbA1c | under 7% (53 mmol/mol) |
| Time in range 70-180 mg/dL (sensor) | more than 70% of the day |
| Time below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) | under 4% of the day |
| Time below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) | under 1% of the day |
Targets for many non-pregnant adults (ADA, 2026; sensor targets from the International Consensus on Time in Range). Your care team sets your personal goals, which can be stricter or less strict.
| Level | Glucose | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | under 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L), 54 or higher | Alert value |
| Level 2 | under 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) | Clinically significant low |
| Level 3 | any value | Severe event that needs help from another person |
Classification of the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (International Hypoglycaemia Study Group, 2017).
| mg/dL | mmol/L | What the value marks |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | 3.0 | Clinically significant low (level 2) |
| 70 | 3.9 | Low blood sugar threshold (level 1) |
| 80 | 4.4 | Lower end of the pre-meal target with diabetes |
| 100 | 5.6 | Upper limit of normal fasting glucose |
| 110 | 6.1 | Prediabetes range when fasting |
| 126 | 7.0 | Diabetes threshold, fasting |
| 130 | 7.2 | Upper end of the pre-meal target with diabetes |
| 140 | 7.8 | Upper limit of normal, 2 hours after the glucose drink |
| 180 | 10.0 | Upper limit of the after-meal target with diabetes |
| 200 | 11.1 | Diabetes threshold, 2-hour or random value |
| 250 | 13.9 | Very high on a glucose sensor |
mmol/L = mg/dL divided by 18 (glucose has a molar mass of about 180 g/mol). For HbA1c conversions use our HbA1c to blood sugar guide.
Pick the row that matches your test. Fasting glucose is measured after at least 8 hours without calories. The glucose tolerance test measures your blood sugar 2 hours after a standardized drink with 75 g of glucose. HbA1c reflects your average blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months and needs no fasting.
Example: a fasting value of 108 mg/dL (6.0 mmol/L) falls in the prediabetes band. The same person could still have a normal HbA1c, which is why doctors often combine two tests before drawing a conclusion.
The diagnostic thresholds are the same for every adult age. In healthy people, average glucose rises only slightly: sensor data show 98 to 99 mg/dL in all age groups up to 60 and 104 mg/dL above 60 (source). For older adults who already have diabetes, doctors often set less strict treatment targets to avoid dangerous lows (ADA, 2026).
Risk rises well before the diabetes threshold. In 11,092 adults without diabetes, an HbA1c of 6.0 to under 6.5% was linked to a 78% higher risk of coronary heart disease and a roughly 4.5 times higher risk of developing diabetes, compared with 5.0 to under 5.5% (Selvin et al., 2010). Lower is not automatically better: the link with mortality from any cause was J-shaped, so very low values were not protective either.
The good news is that prediabetes responds to habits. In the Diabetes Prevention Program, a lifestyle program built on about 7% weight loss and 150 minutes of activity per week cut the rate of new diabetes by 58% over an average of 2.8 years (Knowler et al., 2002).
A diagnosis is always based on laboratory tests. Home meters and continuous glucose sensors are useful for spotting patterns, but they are not used to diagnose diabetes. The values on this page apply to non-pregnant adults: pregnancy uses lower thresholds, and children are assessed by their pediatrician.
What is a normal blood sugar level?
For adults, a fasting value under 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and an HbA1c under 5.7% are normal. Over the course of a day, healthy adults average about 98 to 104 mg/dL (5.4 to 5.8 mmol/L).
What is a normal blood sugar after eating?
Two hours after the standardized 75 g glucose drink, a value under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. After everyday meals, healthy adults rarely go above 140 mg/dL: in sensor data it happened for only about 30 minutes a day in total.
Is a fasting blood sugar of 110 mg/dL bad?
110 mg/dL (6.1 mmol/L) is in the prediabetes range of 100 to 125 mg/dL. A single reading is not a diagnosis: repeat the test, ideally together with HbA1c, and discuss the result with your doctor. Prediabetes is the stage where lifestyle changes work best.
What blood sugar level is too low?
Below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) counts as low, and below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) as clinically significant hypoglycemia. If you have repeated symptoms such as shakiness, sweating or confusion, get checked by a doctor.
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide the mg/dL value by 18. For example, 100 mg/dL equals 5.6 mmol/L and 126 mg/dL equals 7.0 mmol/L. To go the other way, multiply mmol/L by 18.
This reference chart is for educational purposes and is not a medical device, a diagnosis or medical advice. If your values are outside the normal range, talk to your doctor.