From the Guidelines
A serum glucose level of 3 millimoles per liter (mM) is equivalent to 54 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). To convert from millimolar (mM) to milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for glucose, you multiply the mM value by 18, which is the molecular weight of glucose (180 g/mol) divided by 10. This conversion is important in clinical settings because different countries and laboratories may report glucose levels in different units. In the United States, glucose is typically reported in mg/dL, while many other countries use mmol/L (or mM). A glucose level of 3 mM or 54 mg/dL is actually below the normal fasting range (70-100 mg/dL or approximately 3.9-5.6 mM) and would be considered hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous and may require immediate treatment with fast-acting carbohydrates if the patient is symptomatic, as suggested by the American Diabetes Association in their 2021 standards of medical care in diabetes 1. Some key points to consider when treating hypoglycemia include:
- Using fast-acting carbohydrates to raise blood glucose levels
- Avoiding carbohydrate sources high in protein, as they may increase insulin response without increasing plasma glucose concentrations
- Eating a meal or snack after recovery to prevent recurrent hypoglycemia, especially if there is ongoing insulin activity or insulin secretagogues.
From the Research
Serum Glucose Level Conversion
To convert a serum glucose level of 3 millimoles per liter (mM) to milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL), we need to use the conversion factor.
- 1 mmol/L is equal to 18 mg/dL
- Multiply 3 mmol/L by 18 mg/dL to get the equivalent value in mg/dL
Calculation
- 3 mmol/L * 18 mg/dL = 54 mg/dL
Relevant Information
There are no direct references to this conversion in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. However, the studies do discuss hypoglycemia and glucose levels in the context of diabetes management. For example, study 3 mentions a plasma glucose level of 48 ± 8 mg/dL, and study 5 discusses the effectiveness of glucagon in relieving hypoglycemia.