How reports print it
What it shows
The level of sugar (glucose) in venous plasma — the main source of energy for cells. Taken fasting.
Units and conversion
Base unit: mmol/L.
- 1 mg/dL = 0.05551 mmol/L · 1 mmol/L = 18.02 mg/dL
Typical ranges
Your laboratory’s range comes first — it is printed on the report next to the result. Below is one laboratory’s adult range with its method: a reference, not a rule.
| Who | Range, mmol/L |
|---|---|
| Adults | 4.1–6.1 |
Range source: Лаборатория Хеликс — Глюкоза в плазме
Guideline thresholds
They apply on top of the range, for adults outside pregnancy. They are a reason to talk to a doctor, not a conclusion.
- Fasting plasma glucose of 7.0 mmol/L and above is the diagnostic threshold of the Russian Ministry of Health (2022) and ADA (2026) guidelines; without clear symptoms the result is confirmed by a repeat test.
- Fasting glucose from 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/L is a separate zone in the Russian Ministry of Health guideline (2022); ADA (2026) starts it at 5.6.
- Клинические рекомендации «Сахарный диабет 2 типа у взрослых» (2022) — Минздрав России, 2022
- Standards of Care in Diabetes—2026. Section 2: Diagnosis and Classification — American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Care, 2026
Critical values
Urgent thresholds per the source below: < 3.0 mmol/L. If your report has such a value, see a doctor today; if you feel unwell right now, call 103 or 112.
- Клинические рекомендации «Сахарный диабет 2 типа у взрослых» (2022) — Минздрав России, 2022
Good to know
Fasting venous plasma glucose thresholds in the Russian Ministry of Health guideline (2022): below 6.1 mmol/L, 6.1 to 7.0, and 7.0 and above. ADA (2026) marks a range from 5.6 mmol/L. Without clear symptoms, one result is confirmed by a second test. Capillary (finger-prick) blood uses other thresholds.
Why it can be higher
Common reasons discussed with a doctor. This is not a diagnosis.
- The test was not taken fasting
- Stress, acute illness
- Some medicines, such as glucocorticoids
- Disorders of glucose metabolism — a doctor assesses them on repeat tests
Why it can be lower
- Long fasting or intense exercise
- Glucose-lowering medicines and insulin
- Alcohol
- The blood stood long before analysis: glucose falls in the tube
What to ask a doctor
- Is it worth taking HbA1c or repeating fasting glucose?
- Which guideline threshold applies to me, and why?
Whom to see
A GP or internist; then an endocrinologist.