Reference
Normal blood sugar levels chart
Blood sugar in Pakistan is almost always reported in mg/dL. Here are the ranges patients ask about most, and what each one actually indicates.
The complete blood sugar level chart
If you save one table from this page, make it this one. It brings every common reading into a single blood sugar level chart, using the internationally accepted cutoffs that laboratories in Pakistan also follow.
| When measured | Normal | Prediabetes | Diabetes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting (8+ hours) | 70 – 99 mg/dL | 100 – 125 mg/dL | 126 mg/dL or above |
| Before meals | 70 – 99 mg/dL | 100 – 125 mg/dL | 126 mg/dL or above |
| 2 hours after meals | Below 140 mg/dL | 140 – 199 mg/dL | 200 mg/dL or above |
| Random (any time) | Below 140 mg/dL | 140 – 199 mg/dL | 200 mg/dL or above, with symptoms |
| Bedtime | 90 – 120 mg/dL | Not used for diagnosis | Not used for diagnosis |
| HbA1c | Below 5.7% | 5.7% – 6.4% | 6.5% or above |
Bedtime readings are not used to diagnose diabetes. They matter mainly for people already on treatment, where a bedtime value of roughly 100 to 140 mg/dL is a common goal set by the treating doctor. If your numbers sit in the middle column, read our guide to prediabetes symptoms: that stage is far more reversible than diabetes itself.
Fasting blood sugar
Measured after at least 8 hours without food, usually first thing in the morning.
| Reading (mg/dL) | Category |
|---|---|
| 70 – 99 | Normal |
| 100 – 125 | Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose) |
| 126 and above | Diabetes range: needs confirmation by repeat testing |
| Below 70 | Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia): needs attention |
Blood sugar two hours after a meal
| Reading (mg/dL) | Category |
|---|---|
| Below 140 | Normal |
| 140 – 199 | Prediabetes (impaired glucose tolerance) |
| 200 and above | Diabetes range |
Random blood sugar
A reading taken at any time, regardless of meals. A random reading of 200 mg/dL or above, together with classic symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss, points strongly to diabetes and needs prompt medical review.
Targets if you already have diabetes
Once diabetes is diagnosed, the goal shifts from diagnostic thresholds to treatment targets. For many adults these are:
- Fasting: roughly 80–130 mg/dL
- Two hours after a meal: below about 180 mg/dL
- HbA1c: commonly below 7%. See Understanding HbA1c
These are general figures. Older patients, patients with heart or kidney disease, and patients who have had episodes of low blood sugar are often given deliberately looser targets, because avoiding hypoglycaemia matters more than chasing a perfect number.
How to test properly at home
- Wash and dry your hands first, because traces of food on a fingertip can badly distort a reading
- Use the side of the fingertip rather than the pad; it hurts less and bleeds more reliably
- Record every reading with the time and whether it was before or after eating. A list of numbers without context is almost useless in a consultation
- Check your strips haven't expired, and that the meter is coded correctly if your model requires it
When should you check your sugar at home?
How often you test depends on your treatment. A person managing with diet alone does not need the same schedule as someone on insulin, and your doctor will set the pattern that fits your plan. As a general guide, the most informative moments are:
- Fasting, on waking: before tea, breakfast, or your morning medication
- Before the largest meal of the day: usually lunch or dinner in most Pakistani households
- Two hours after the first bite of a meal: this shows how your body handled the roti, rice, or biryani you actually ate, not a theoretical meal
- At bedtime, if you take insulin: to lower the risk of overnight lows
- Extra checks during illness, travel, or Ramadan: when routines change, readings change with them
Remember that a home meter is a monitoring tool. For diagnosis, the proper laboratory sugar ka test, meaning a fasting glucose or an HbA1c, is still essential.
What should you do if your reading is high?
One high reading is information, not an emergency. Work through these steps:
- Wash your hands and repeat the test. Fruit juice or food residue on a fingertip is one of the most common causes of a falsely high number.
- Drink water and move. A 10 to 15 minute walk after a high post-meal reading helps your muscles use up glucose, provided you feel well otherwise.
- Look for a cause. A heavy dinner, a missed medicine dose, poor sleep, stress, or a brewing infection can each push readings up.
- Watch the pattern, not the point. Recheck your fasting sugar the next morning, and test at the same times over the next two to three days.
- If the highs persist for three or more days, contact your doctor. A pattern of high readings means your plan needs adjusting, not that you should adjust it yourself.
Do not double your medicine after one high reading
Increasing tablets or insulin on your own can swing you from high sugar to a dangerous low within hours. Share the readings with your doctor and change doses only on medical advice.
What do readings mean when you are ill?
Fever, flu, chest infections, urine infections, and even dental infections push blood sugar up, because stress hormones make the liver release extra glucose. This happens even if you are eating less than usual, which surprises many patients. During illness:
- Check your sugar more often than usual, roughly every four to six hours if you can
- Keep drinking fluids, and do not stop your diabetes medication without medical advice
- Expect readings somewhat above your usual pattern; a mild rise during fever is common and settles as you recover
- Treat readings that stay very high, or any vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down, as a reason for urgent review
When to seek care immediately
Very high readings with vomiting, deep or rapid breathing, drowsiness or confusion, or very low readings with sweating, shaking, or confusion, need urgent medical attention. Go to your nearest emergency department rather than waiting for an appointment.
mg/dL to mmol/L conversion
Laboratories and glucometers in Pakistan report in mg/dL, but UK websites, some imported meters, and many international articles use mmol/L. To convert, divide the mg/dL figure by 18. The values you will meet most often:
| mg/dL | mmol/L | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 3.9 | Lower edge of normal |
| 100 | 5.6 | Start of the prediabetes range (fasting) |
| 126 | 7.0 | Fasting diabetes threshold |
| 140 | 7.8 | Upper limit of normal after meals |
| 180 | 10.0 | Common post-meal target once diagnosed |
| 200 | 11.1 | Post-meal diabetes threshold |
| 250 | 13.9 | Clearly above target |
| 300 | 16.7 | Needs prompt medical review |
Not sure what your numbers mean?
Send your readings, even a photo of a diary page, and have them properly interpreted in an online consultation with Dr. Mahboob Ahmad, available 9 AM to 11 PM, all 7 days, anywhere in Pakistan. Book an appointment or message on WhatsApp at +92 343 8752531.
Frequently asked questions
What is the normal sugar level in Pakistan?
Normal ranges are the same everywhere in the world, including Pakistan: roughly 70 to 99 mg/dL fasting and below 140 mg/dL two hours after a meal. A fasting reading of 100 to 125 mg/dL suggests prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or above, confirmed by repeat testing, indicates diabetes.
Which blood sugar level is dangerous?
A reading below 70 mg/dL with sweating, shaking, or confusion needs fast-acting sugar immediately. Readings that stay above 300 mg/dL, or any very high reading with vomiting, deep breathing, or drowsiness, need urgent medical attention rather than a routine appointment.
Is a fasting sugar of 110 mg/dL normal?
No. A fasting reading of 110 mg/dL falls in the prediabetes range of 100 to 125 mg/dL. It is not diabetes yet, but it is a clear early warning, and this is the stage where diet, weight loss, and daily activity work best.
Can a home glucometer diagnose diabetes?
No. A home meter is excellent for day-to-day monitoring, but diagnosis needs a laboratory test, such as fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c, interpreted by a doctor. Use home readings to guide the conversation with your doctor, not to label yourself.
Medical disclaimer: These ranges are general reference points, not a diagnosis. Diagnosis requires confirmed laboratory testing interpreted by a doctor. See our full medical disclaimer.