Prediabetes Blood Sugar Levels: Your Ultimate Guide

You want to take steps to control or reverse your prediabetes, and the first place to start is to have a comprehensive understanding of your blood sugar levels.

Here we cover diagnostic blood sugar levels in prediabetes, blood sugar goals, fasting levels, blood sugar monitoring, common FAQs and more.

Let’s dive in…

Diagnostic Blood Sugar Ranges for Prediabetes

To determine whether you have prediabetes or not, your doctor will typically perform one of the following blood tests:

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) Test: This test measures your blood sugar levels after fasting for at least 8 hours. A fasting plasma glucose level between 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) and 125 mg/dL (6.9 mmol/L) indicates prediabetes.
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): The OGTT involves taking a blood sample to measure your fasting blood sugar levels. Then, you consume a sugary drink, and your blood sugar levels are measured again after 2 hours. A 2-hour blood sugar level between 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) and 199 mg/dL (11.0 mmol/L) is indicative of prediabetes.
3. Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) Test: This test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. An HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% suggests you have prediabetes.

It is essential to consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the results of these tests and understand your risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

Blood Sugar Level Goals for Prediabetes

Being proactive about your prediabetes is crucial to prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.

With prediabetes you want to get your levels back to normal. Therefore, the blood sugar level goals to aim for are:

1. Fasting Blood Sugar: Aim for a fasting blood sugar level between 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) and 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L).
2. Postprandial (after-meal) Blood Sugar: Keep your blood sugar levels under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after a meal.
3. Hemoglobin A1c: Maintain your A1c level below 5.7%, which is considered a normal level.

Fasting Blood Sugar Goals for Prediabetes

As suggested above, aim for a fasting blood sugar level between 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) and 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L), which is considered a normal level.

Sometimes, fasting levels can be the last thing to return to normal, because they are influenced, not only by the food you eat, but by hormones.

Around 3-4 am each morning, there are a collection of counter-regulatory hormones that are signaled in the body: glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol, which result in a rise in blood sugar.

This change in hormones occurs to stimulate our awakening, to get us moving and to give us energy. This is referred to as the Dawn Phenomenon or Dawn Effect.

This is in fact a ‘normal’ response. This occurs in everyone, diabetic or not.

However, if you have prediabetes there is one additional factor that impacts both the overnight glucose production and the rise in glucose with cortisol, and that is insulin resistance.

As you reset your prediabetes health and get your blood sugar back to normal, your insulin sensitivity will improve, your metabolism will return to normal and you will see your hormones normalizing as well, which means your fasting levels should return to normal too. Just keep in mind that with fasting levels, it can take a bit longer sometimes.

Monitoring Blood Sugar With Prediabetes

Should I Check My Blood Sugar If I Am Prediabetic?

Absolutely, our recommendation is YES!

Checking your blood sugar is a great way to get immediate feedback about your levels so you can make adjustments to your eating or exercise plan, and this can really help you to quickly get results.

“I think if there is one bit of advice I would give to someone who needs to stay motivated to eat correctly, it would be to get a blood sugar monitor and use it. You will know that you are in control. What you eat makes all the difference and it will be reflected in the number you see each day on your monitor. Last week I went in for my yearly physical and my A1c was 5.5! ’m off metformin and you could say that I’m not pre diabetic anymore. Thank you DMP and your sincere staff. You are doing wonderful work.” ~Cheryl

How To Monitor Your Blood Sugar If You Are Prediabetic?

For most people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, it’s common for doctors and health practitioners to recommend testing fasting blood sugar.

While this is one number to measure, it’s actually not the most reliable measurement for assessing your blood sugar control, or evaluate the improvements you are making.

Why?

As we said above, fasting levels can be influenced by hormones and you don’t have direct control over these. A more reliable measure for monitoring is your postprandial (after-meal) blood sugar levels.

You want to test your levels 2-hours after a meal (postpriandial levels). Set your timer for 2-hours from your first bite of food. And, keep a log of your numbers.

The goal is to keep your blood sugar levels under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after a meal. If you do this, you will see your A1c levels come down as well.

How Often Should I Check My Blood Sugar If I Am Prediabetic?

Typically, people with prediabetes might check their fasting blood sugar levels once or twice a week. This is okay.

However, we highly recommend using after-meal blood sugar monitoring to help you achieve and maintain normal levels.

You could check twice a day, after lunch and after dinner and note down your readings. At the very least, you want to test after one meal a day and keep a log of your numbers so you can see how you’re tracking.

The goal is to keep your blood sugar levels under 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) two hours after a meal.

By staying within these guidelines, you will be able to achieve normal A1c again.

FAQ

Prediabetic Blood Sugar 167, 3 Hours After Snack: Good or Bad?

A prediabetic blood sugar level of 167 mg/dL (9.3 mmol/L) three hours after a snack is not considered normal.

The goal is to keep postprandial (after-meal) blood sugar levels below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), so 167 (9.3) is considerably higher and indicates that your meal may be too high in carbohydrates.

Think about what carbohydrate foods you had in the meal because carbohydrate foods have the most significant impact on blood sugar levels.

Is A Blood Sugar Of 95 Too Low For A Prediabetic?

A blood sugar level of 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L) for a person with prediabetes is not considered too low.

In fact, it falls within the normal range for fasting blood sugar, which is between 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L). It also falls within an acceptable range for postprandial levels, which should be kept below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L).

Low blood sugar is below 70 mg/dL (4.0 mmol/L).

Is 155 Blood Sugar For A Prediabetic Male Normal?

A blood sugar level of 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L) for a prediabetic male is not considered normal for either fasting or postprandial measurements.

• The normal fasting blood sugar range is 70-100 mg/dL (4.0-5.6 mmol/L) – this is the goal you want to work toward achieving.
• Prediabetic diagnostic fasting levels fall between 100-125 mg/dL (5.6-6.9 mmol/L).
• For postprandial (after-meal) blood sugar, the target is to remain below 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L).

As you can see, a reading of 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L) indicates that blood sugar levels are elevated beyond the acceptable range for both fasting and post-meal measurements.

Cortisone Shot and Blood Sugar Levels: Prediabetes

Cortisone shots, also known as corticosteroid injections, are commonly used to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in various conditions. However, cortisone shots can cause a hormonal reaction that leads to temporarily higher blood sugar levels, in addition to increasing insulin resistance.

Corticosteroids, like cortisone, can stimulate the liver to produce more glucose, while also interfering with insulin function. This dual effect results in higher blood sugar levels, as the body is unable to effectively regulate the increased glucose production.

If you’re concerned, please speak to your doctor about potential medication alternatives.

Why Is My Prediabetes Blood Sugar 125 At 4 AM Without Any Food?

Glucose production in the body will still occur when you don’t eat or if you skip a meal because the body always maintains glucose at a certain level in order to function.

The liver can produce sugar (glucose) by breaking down body stores (glycogen), a process called glycogenolysis. The liver can also manufacture sugar (glucose) from amino acids (proteins) in a process called gluconeogenesis.

In addition, around 3-4 am each morning, there are a collection of counter-regulatory hormones that are signaled in the body: glucagon, epinephrine, growth hormone, and cortisol, which result in a rise in blood sugar.

How To Get Blood Sugar Down In A Hurry With Prediabetes?

You can see a dramatic shift in blood sugar in a matter of days – we’ve seen this happen in our 21 Day Lower Blood Sugar Challenge, which we run with our members from time to time.

At times my fasting levels were as high as 199 (11.1). After just 21 days my morning average is 121 to 140 (6.8 to 7.8) and my after-meal numbers are normal! I had never seen a number much below 120! It does work and I am very thankful for the advice & encouragement.” ~Margaret

“I’m so proud of myself for sticking with the challenge for 21 days. I’ve lost weight and changed eating habits. I lost over 11 pounds (4.9kg) in 21 days, lowered after-meal blood sugar from 151-160 (8.4-8.9) down to under 140 (7.8), and morning sugars from 121-140 (6.7-7.8) down to 101-120 (5.6-6.7). I look forward to keeping it up.” ~Linda H

The key lies in the foods you eat!

Nutrition is the most important factor in controlling and reversing your prediabetes.

Let us help you do this: Take our clinically proven Prediabetes Reset Program.

In as little as 16 weeks, you can achieve a normal blood sugar level so you can focus on living your best life!