This blood glucose (sugar) converter helps you to switch your blood levels from mmol/L to mg/dL and vice versa.
Changing units may be helpful if you want to compare results and understand medical advice or devices that use units you aren’t used to.
Keep reading to understand the difference between the 2 units, how to convert from one to another, what blood glucose range is considered normal, and to discover how else your blood glucose can be reported.
What’s the difference between mmol/L and mg/dL, and how can I switch between them?
Millimoles per liter(mmol/L) tells you how many tiny particles (millimoles) of sugar are dissolved in one liter of blood while milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) measures how many milligrams of sugar are in one tenth of a liter of blood.
Mg/dL is commonly used in the US, India, and Brazil whereas mmol/L is the international standard, used in the UK, Canada, Australia, and most other countries.
Converting your values between these 2 units is simple. 1 mmol/L is equal to 18 mg/dL. To go from mmol/L to mg/dL, multiply the number by 18 e.g., 5 mmol/L × 18 = 90 mg/dL. To change mg/dL to mmol/L divide the number by 18 e.g., 180 mg/dL ÷ 18 = 10 mmol/L.
Luckily our blood glucose converter does this work for you. Simply choose the value your blood glucose is available in and enter its value in the tool above. Then, press “calculate” and your new value will be displayed instantly.
How else can blood glucose be measured?
When your blood glucose is measured at a specific moment by a glucose meter, continuous glucose monitor (CGM), or lab test, it is recorded in mmol/L or mg /dL. However, when it is necessary to estimate your blood levels over a longer time, an A1c (or HbA1c) test is done. This test reflects your average levels over the earlier 2 – 3 months. It is used to diagnose prediabetes, diabetes, and to assess overall diabetes control in those living with the condition.
What is a normal blood glucose range?
Blood glucose levels change throughout the day depending on your activity, stress levels, and meals. However, your body’s regulatory systems try to keep them within a certain normal range.
If you don’t have diabetes, typical ranges are:
- Fasting (after not eating for 8 hours or more) — 3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L (70 to 99 mg/dL)
- Post-meal (1–2 hours after eating) — Up to 7.9 mmol/L (140 mg/dL)
For people with diabetes, doctors usually set personal targets depending on factors like age, medications, other conditions, and activity level. Typical fasting blood glucose targets are 4.4 – 7.2 mmol/L (80 – 130 mg/dL) and post-meal target is a value less than 10 mmol/L (180 mg/dL).
Blood glucose that is too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia) can cause immediate or long-term complications. If your reading is out of your recommended range, please seek immediate medical attention, especially if you start to experience symptoms like dizziness, blurry vision, sweating, abdominal pain, vomiting, fruity breath, or excessive thirst.
Can I change the units on my glucose meter?
Many glucose meters allow users to switch between mmol/L and mg/dL, but not all devices have this option. Some models are locked to one unit depending on the region they were made for.
If your device allows unit changes, it’s usually done through the settings/set up menu. You can access this menu by holding the power or “S” button. When this doesn’t work, you can check the user manual or request your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor for help.