What is normal blood sugar? Here’s everything you need to know.

What is normal blood sugar? What should people with diabetes be aiming for? That’s a question we get all the time.

Diabetes is such a balancing act – don’t go too high or there are long-term complications to worry about. Don’t go too low, or you could need emergency help. In between, there’s a magic range. Here’s what it is.

Normal blood sugar range

The goal for people with diabetes is 4mmol/l to 7mmol/l. Lower than 4mmol/l (and particularly lower than 3mmol/l) is low (hypoglycemia) which is immediately dangerous and can lead to an emergency situation where you lose consciousness (pass out). Here’s what low blood sugar feels like.

Between 7mmol/l and 10mmol/l is also a good zone, although some doctors and diabetics like to keep tighter control and don’t go higher than 9mmol/l. Higher than 10mmol/l is too high. Here’s what high blood sugar feels like.

How to keep your blood sugar balanced

If you’re struggling to see the numbers you want, there are a few things you can do. The simplest way to remember how to manage your diabetes is to think of TEEL:

1. Take your medication
   Taking medication every day is so important for good blood sugar control. If your medication makes you feel unwell, we can help. Here are all the diabetes medication tips you need.
2. Eat healthy food
   Are you eating a healthy diabetes diet? Do you need to cut your carbs (starches) to control your blood sugar? Here’s a simple way to eat LCHF. And here’s the one article you need to read about diabetes and diet.
3. Exercise, a little every day
   No matter what kind of exercise you choose to do, it’s important to get active for 20 to 30 minutes every single day. Take a look at our ultimate guide to exercise with diabetes
4. Lose weight, if you need to
   We know how hard it can be to lose weight with diabetes – that’s why we’ve written this step-by-step guide. You can do it!

Just do your best

We are all living different lives, and our blood sugar reacts differently to different things. Just do your best – that’s all you can do. We’re all in this together!

It can be really helpful to have the support of other people with diabetes to chat to. South Africans with Diabetes is SA’s largest online diabetes community – please join us!

Would you rather listen to this information?

Here’s an episode of our podcast about it!

What to read next?

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Sweet Life 7 day meal plan: At last! The one meal plan you need for diabetes, for free!

Managing Type 2 diabetes: All you need to know to manage your condition, with terrific food and exercise tips.