Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL? 15 g of fast sugar, recheck in 15 minutes. Unconscious or can’t swallow? Call 911Below 70? The 15-15 rule
Type 1 · Type 2 · Gestational diabetes
Plain-language guides to blood sugar, symptoms and treatment, plus 250+ articles and news stories from two decades of diabetes research and care.
A1C converter
What does my A1C mean?
A1C shows your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. Enter a result to see the matching average glucose and where it sits on the diagnostic scale.
Average glucose from the ADAG formula (28.7 × A1C − 46.7). Ranges from the American Diabetes Association. For information only, not a diagnosis.
What’s new
The study aimed to understand the potential risks and effects of these medications on pregnant individuals and their babies. Learn more at All for Diabetes.
7 min read
Free self-checks
Private, instant and based on published medical guidance. Your answers never leave your device.
GLP-1 medicines
Two brands of the same medicine, approved for different uses. Both are prescription-only weekly injections; ask your doctor whether either is right for you.
Weight managementWegovy (semaglutide)A once-weekly semaglutide medicine for long-term weight management in people with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related health problem, used together with diet and physical activity.
Type 2 diabetesOzempic (semaglutide)A once-weekly semaglutide injection for adults with type 2 diabetes, used with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar. It is also used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.Wegovy and Ozempic are trademarks of Novo Nordisk. All for Diabetes is independent and not affiliated with the manufacturer.
Reading the numbers
Diabetes is diagnosed with a blood test. A1C reflects the past two to three months; fasting glucose is measured after eight hours without food; the glucose tolerance test checks your level two hours after a sugary drink. A result in the diabetes range is normally confirmed with a second test.
Convert your A1C to average glucoseSource: American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes. Glucose values in mg/dL (divide by 18 for mmol/L), for non-pregnant adults. Pregnancy uses different thresholds.
Latest in
Ask any diabetes specialist whether people can protect themselves from Type 2 diabetes through diet and exercise and the answer will be a resounding yes. It has been shown three times, in studies in three countries, one of them the
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Eighteen-year-old Landon Talley seems like any other baseball player on the Maryville High School baseball team. He hits, runs, plays third base and works out whenever he can. Unlike other players, however, Talley must carry snacks, syringes and two types
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Nearly nine out of every 100 Canadians will be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes over 10 years, leading to nearly two million new diabetes cases in Canada by 2017, new research finds. That’s on top of the two million Canadians
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From time to time, the importance of a healthy food pyramid diet was associated with the prevention and treatment of diabetes food pyramid. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services invites us to a healthy food pyramid diet to
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Twelve new genes associated with type 2 diabetes have been identified in the largest study yet of the connections between differences in people’s DNA and their risk of diabetes. The international consortium of scientists, led by Professor Mark McCarthy of
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Diabetic retinopathy is an eye disease linked to Type 2 diabetes and is a leading cause of vision loss. But, in research released Tuesday, doctors said they have identified two therapies that may slow the progress of the disease. People
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Diabetes, by the numbers
Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes can go unnoticed for years. A simple blood test finds them, and with the right care most people live long, full lives.
The three main types
All three mean too much sugar in the blood, but they start differently and are treated differently.
Type 1
An autoimmune condition, usually diagnosed in children and young adults but possible at any age. It is not caused by lifestyle, and it is treated with insulin from day one.
Type 2
The most common type. It develops slowly, often without symptoms, and is linked to genes, weight and activity. Prediabetes comes first, and that is where it can often be prevented.
Gestational
Found with a glucose test, usually between 24 and 28 weeks. It normally goes away after the birth, but it raises the chance of type 2 diabetes later for mother and child.
Featured
GBI Research’s new report, – provides key data, information and analysis on the global diabetes care devices market. The report provides market landscape, competitive landscape and market trends information on two diabetes care devices market categories – glucose monitoring and
2 min read
THREE generations of a family touched by diabetes are putting their walking shoes on to raise funds to help battle the disease. Alan and Jean Rush, their son Steven, 39, his wife Claire, and their grandson Hudson, are all set
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Typical targets for adults
ADA general goals for non-pregnant adults. Yours may differ: agree them with your care team.
At home
The presence of fasting hyperglycemia (>105 mg/dl or >5.8 mmol/l) may be associated with an increase in the risk of intrauterine fetal death during the last 4-8 weeks of gestation. Although uncomplicated GDM with less severe fasting hyperglycemia has not
1 min read
Low blood sugar
Hypoglycemia can happen to anyone who takes insulin or certain diabetes tablets. Treat it straight away. If someone is confused, unconscious or can’t swallow, don’t give food or drink: use glucagon if it is available and call 911 or your local emergency number.
Common signs
Based on American Diabetes Association guidance. Your care team may give you a different plan, for example for children or after severe lows. Outside the US, call your local emergency number.
