What are mg/dl and mmol/l? How to convert? Glucose? Cholesterol?

There are two main methods of describing concentrations: by weight, and by molecular count. Weights are in grams, molecular counts in moles.

Many meters now have a switch that allows you to change between units. Sometimes it’s a physical switch, and sometimes it’s an option that you can set.

To convert mmol/l of glucose to mg/dl, multiply by 18.

To convert mg/dl of glucose to mmol/l, divide by 18 or multiply by 0.055.

These factors are specific for glucose, because they depend on the mass of one molecule (the molecular weight). The conversion factors are different for other substances. Read this.

mmol/l     mg/dl     interpretation
   ——     —–     ————–
     2.0        35           extremely low, danger of unconciousness
     3.0        55           low, marginal insulin reaction
     4.0        75           slightly low, first symptoms of lethargy etc.
     5.5       100          mecca
    5 – 6     90-110    normal preprandial in nondiabetics
     8.0       150          normal postprandial in nondiabetics
    10.0       180        maximum postprandial in nondiabetics
    11.0       200     
    15.0       270         a little high to very high depending on patient
    16.5       300
    20.0       360        getting up there
    22         400         max mg/dl for some meters and strips
    33         600         high danger of severe electrolyte imbalance

Preprandial  = before meal
Postprandial = after meal

More conversions:

To convert mmol/l of HDL or LDL cholesterol to mg/dl, multiply by 39.
To convert mg/dl of HDL or LDL cholesterol to mmol/l, divide by 39.

To convert mmol/l of triglycerides to mg/dl, multiply by 89.
To convert mg/dl of triglycerides to mmol/l, divide by 89.

To convert umol (micromoles) /l of creatinine to mg/dl, divide by 88.
To convert mg/dl of creatinine to umol/l, multiply by 88.

Above information borrowed and shared with respect.

What Is Pre-Diabetes?

Pre-diabetes (also known as “impaired fasting glucose” or “impaired glucose tolerance”) means that the cells in your body are becoming resistant to insulin, or your pancreas is not producing enough insulin as required.

Blood glucose levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be called diabetes.

A diagnosis of pre-diabetes is a warning sign that diabetes could possibly develop later. You can prevent the development of Type 2 diabetes by losing weight, making changes in your diet and exercising.

Pre-diabetes is often discovered during a routine physical examination, with basic screening for fasting blood glucose levels. The normal level is below 100 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter - is the traditional unit for measuring blood glucose).

If it’s 100 to 125 mg/dl, this indicates that you have impaired fasting glucose or pre-diabetes. Over 126 mg/dl most likely means a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes.

What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus (commonly referred to as just “diabetes”) is a disorder in which the body either does not produce or does not properly utilize insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, that helps move glucose into the cells, and that is needed to convert sugar, starches, carbohydrates and other food into energy needed for daily life.

Normally, the sugar you take in is digested and broken down to a simple sugar, known as glucose. The glucose then circulates in your blood where it waits to enter cells to be used as fuel.

Because diabetics have a disfunctionality in which the pancreas does not produce insulin, or does not adjust the amount of insulin based on the level of glucose, their bodies can’t use glucose (blood sugar) for energy, which results in elevated blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) and the eventual urination of sugar out of their bodies.There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 (”insulin-dependent” and previously called “juvenile diabetes”). Type 1 diabetes is associated with a malfunctioning pancreas which does not produce adequate amounts of insulin. It develops most often in children and young adults. Type 1 diabetes is traditionally treated with insulin.
• Type 2 (”noninsulin-dependent” or sometomes called “adult-onset diabetes”). Type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistant cells. It is much more common and usually develops in older adults. Type 2 diabetes is now being found at younger ages and is even being diagnosed among children and teens.
• Gestational (pregnancy-related). Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy usually toward the end of pregnancy. It effects approximately 3 to 5 percent of all pregnant women. Although it goes away after pregnancy, these women have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Genesis…

I have recently returned from a mini-vacation with my 62 year old father, who I haven’t seen for about 3 years, and who has a history of chronic depression, high blood pressure, and has been diagnosed as being a type 2 diabete for about 15 years. His mother, my grandmother, died of diabetes related complications shortly after I was born. My mother’s sister, died in hospital after a minor fall, and unfairly, in 2007, because of a neglect on the side of medical staff, to administer her insulin medication.

On the day that I met my father for our recent reunion (lets call him George for future reference), he just returned from a visit to the doctor, who gave him the news that his blood sugar levels were abnormally high. He was tired, and obviously stressed out, but determined not to inhibit our plans for the days ahead. During these days I made an effort to prepare foods which I deemed to be appropriate, considering the circumstances, and 10 days after this, on a subsequent visit to the doctor, his blood sugar levels had dropped significantly.

Now I do know how to eat healthy, I consider myself an enthusiastic student and teacher of healthy living and eating. But being 36, and having paid my own dues in walking the path to renewed health, I have never considered the possibility of myself being diagnosed as being diabetic. I still have the chance to minimize that prospect, while my father has a scheduled appointment with his own doctor, where the possibility that he may be diagnosed as being a type 1 diabete, is pretty good.

I have made a promise to George, to help him as far as I can, and this is the main reason for starting this blog. I believe that even given his current state of health, he could just realise that his best years still lay ahead of him.

It will not be easy, he is totally left behind when it comes to internet technology, and his command of the English language is also not one of his strong points. He lives 800 miles from me. During the little vacation we had we were in the African bush, and far from any internet connection, otherwise I could have at least helped him then to set up an internet account, and familiarize him with it.

But here starts the journey, and my research into the subject of diabetes, and the possibilities, not the restrictions, that come with it.