What are "normal" blood sugar levels?

It is very confusing to stare at a screen with a number and have no idea if it is good or bad! Blood sugar targets depend on whether you have been diagnosed with diabetes, but here are the general guidelines for someone without diabetes:

For a person without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar (taken first thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything but water) is typically between 70 and 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L).

Two hours after eating a meal, a normal blood sugar reading should be less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L).

If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor will set individualized targets for you. Often, these targets are a bit more relaxed than non-diabetic numbers to prevent dangerous low blood sugars. For example, the American Diabetes Association generally recommends aiming for a fasting sugar of 80-130 mg/dL and a post-meal sugar of under 180 mg/dL for diabetic adults. If your home readings are consistently falling outside the normal non-diabetic range, it is time to schedule a check-up with your doctor.