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The Significance of Blood Sugar Levels

The level of glucose in the blood normally stays within a very narrow range. An abnormal blood sugar level can indicate a metabolic disorder such as diabetes, where the patient is unable to metabolize sugar.

  1. Units of Measure

    • The blood sugar level is commonly measured in units of milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl). Millimoles per liter (mmol/l) is also a common unit of measure for blood glucose.

    Normal Values

    • The reference range for the blood glucose level is 80 mg/dl to 110 mg/dl, with 90 mg/dl being the mean. Divide these values by 18 to convert to units of mmol/l.

    Meals

    • The blood sugar level normally increases significantly after a meal as the food is broken down into glucose. The blood sugar level in non-diabetics reaches a peak of about 140 mg/dl approximately two hours after a meal.

    Hyperglycemia

    • A blood sugar level greater than 180 mg/dl taken two hours after a meal is generally defined as hyperglycemia. This glucose level is considered clinically significant and is one of the symptoms of diabetes.

    Hypoglycemia

    • Hypoglycemia is most often defined as a blood glucose level below 70 mg/dl, although it typically isn't symptomatic until the blood glucose level drops below 55.

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