BloodGlucoseValueUnderstand every reading

Blood Glucose 60 mg/dL tested - is it bad?

Blood glucose meter showing 60 mg/dL
  • Without diabetes, fastingBelow normal
  • Without diabetes, 2 h after eatingBelow normal
  • With diabetes, before a mealLevel 1 hypoglycemia
  • With diabetes, after a mealLevel 1 hypoglycemia
  • In mmol/L3.3 mmol/L

Treat the low now

  • Take 15–20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate (4 glucose tablets, ½ cup (4 oz) of juice or regular soda, 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey).
  • Re-check after 15 minutes and repeat if still below 70 mg/dL.
  • Then eat a snack or your next meal. Do not drive until you are back above 70 and feel normal.
  • Without diabetes and without symptoms: eating something and re-checking is usually enough. Mention repeated lows to your doctor.

If you don't have diabetes

60 mg/dL is below the normal range. Mild dips can follow intense exercise, a long gap between meals or a high-carb meal (reactive hypoglycemia). Eat something, re-check, and mention repeated lows to your doctor.

Fasting (8+ hours without food)

Below normalScale with 60 mg/dL marked557010012660 mg/dL

2 hours after eating (or glucose tolerance test)

Below normalScale with 60 mg/dL marked557014020060 mg/dL

If you have diabetes

60 mg/dL is level 1 hypoglycemia (54–69 mg/dL). Treat it now with 15–20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate and re-check after 15 minutes (see the box above).

Before a meal / fasting

Level 1 hypoglycemiaScale with 60 mg/dL marked547080>130>180>24030060 mg/dL

1–2 hours after a meal

Level 1 hypoglycemiaScale with 60 mg/dL marked5470180>24030060 mg/dL

Targets for most non-pregnant adults (American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Care). Your own targets may be different — for example in pregnancy, for children, older adults or people prone to lows. See pregnancy targets.

Make sure the number is right

  • Wash and dry your hands before a finger-stick: fruit juice or sugar on the skin can raise the result a lot.
  • Home meters may differ from a lab value by up to about 15%. At 60 mg/dL that means roughly 51–69 mg/dL.
  • CGM sensors measure tissue fluid and lag 5–15 minutes behind blood when glucose changes quickly — confirm lows with a finger-stick.

Check another reading

Nearby values

Sources: ADA Standards of Care · ADA: Hypoglycemia · MedlinePlus: Blood glucose test

This page explains one reading in general terms. It is not a diagnosis or a treatment instruction. Follow the plan agreed with your doctor or diabetes team.