Blood Glucose Conversion: 0.7 mmol/L to mg/dL
0.7 mmol/L equals approximately 12.6 mg/dL, which represents severe hypoglycemia requiring immediate treatment. 1
Conversion Calculation
- To convert from mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply by 18 1
- 0.7 mmol/L × 18 = 12.6 mg/dL 1
- This value falls well below the hypoglycemia alert threshold of <70 mg/dL (<3.9 mmol/L) 1
- This represents severe hypoglycemia, defined as <40 mg/dL (<2.2 mmol/L) 1
Clinical Significance
- Blood glucose of 12.6 mg/dL is a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment without delay 2
- Critically ill patients with hypoglycemia should be treated immediately using protocols that demonstrate low risk of further hypoglycemia 2
- This level is far below the threshold where glucose meters are required to maintain accuracy (meters must be accurate for BG <75 mg/dL within 12 mg/dL per FDA standards) 2
Common Pitfalls
- The most common error is confusing the conversion direction—dividing by 18 instead of multiplying when converting mmol/L to mg/dL 1
- When reviewing international literature, always verify which unit is being reported, as North America uses mg/dL while most other countries use mmol/L 1
- Failing to recognize the clinical urgency of such a low value can lead to delayed treatment 1