You lovely readers come from all over the world and often have trouble understanding each other's glucose levels in the forum or when chatting. Here's a handy, general, chart to give you an idea of what the other person's levels may be around. These numbers are very general and not 100%, on-the-nose, accurate. Please don't use it in any form of treatment or self-treatment. This chart is provided for our chatting purposes only. You can find more accurate charts from more reliable sources.

See below for explanations of whole blood, plasma, mg/dL, and mmol/L.

• The recommended hemoglobin A1c goal from the American Diabetes Association for NONpregnant diabetics is is 7%
• People without diabetes generally have an HbA1c of 6.0% or less but drops to less than 5.0% during pregnancy. That is why us pregnant diabetics are given lower goals, to stay as close to "normal" as possible. Most of the mommies I have talked to have had HbA1c goals that differed but usually fell between the 5.0%-7.0% range.The tighter you can get HbA1c levels, the lower your risk of complications. It is up to you and your healthcare team to decide on a goal considering your individual situation and without putting you at too much risk for hypoglycemia.

For more information on blood glucose or blood sugar goals go here.

Here's a cute explanation of the mmol/L numbers for us Americans:

4 and below, I usually feel low.
4 to 7 is the goal.
7 to 10 try harder again
10 and above, check insulin love
and some exercise, get plenty of

Adapted from a post by lappa1

Confused about mg/dL and mmol/L? Well, mmol/L is the world standard for measuring blood glucose. It is the SI or Systeme
International unit. Just about every country in the world uses this measurement - except for the U.S. However, it is being used more and more in American medical journals.

Confused about whole blood and plasma? Whole blood is when you obtain a measurement from whole blood. Just like when you prick your finger and put a drop of whole blood on the strip. Plasma is when the red blood cells are removed and the glucose measurement is taken from your plasma. This is the measurement you get from the lab.

So...that means your home meter gives the whole blood measurement right? Not necessarily. Many blood glucose meters are programmed to convert your whole blood measurement to a plasma measurement. Most of the new meters are now doing this because most doctor's offices use the plasma measurement.

Neither one of these methods is better or more accurate than the other. They are just different ways to measure the same thing. Kind of like how you can express the temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit.

The moral of the story? Know what type of reading you are getting from your meter and whether your doctor is talking whole blood or plasma AND that he knows what kind of reading your meter is spitting out.

If your doctor is giving you different goals than the ones mentioned here, remember we are all different people and sometimes require individual treatment. Follow your health care team's recommendations. And, don't be afraid to ask why!

Diabetes and
Pregnancy:
What to
Expect
Recommended books

This is not a health care site. The editor is not a health care professional, is not qualified, and does not give medical or mental health advice.

Please consult with qualified professionals in order to find the right regimen and treatment for you. Do not make changes without consulting your health care team. .

Because this site is for all diabetics at all stages of life, some information may not be appropriate for you - remember information may be different for type 1, type 2, type 1.5, and gestational diabetics.

Articles submitted by other authors represent their own views, not necessarily the editor's.

The editor and contributing writers cannot be held responsible in any shape or form for your physical or mental health or that of your child or children. They cannot be held responsible for how any of the information on this site or associated sites affects your life.

The community associated with this site is a sort of self-help support group. Advice or information shared is personal and possibly not optimal for you. It is up to you to use this information as you see fit in conjunction with your medical care team. The results are your own responsibility. Other members or the editor or contributors cannot be held responsible.