Understanding blood sugar units in India
Indian labs report glucose in mg/dL (milligrams per decilitre). Some reports and devices also show mmol/L (millimoles per litre). To convert: divide mg/dL by 18 to get mmol/L. A fasting reading of 90 mg/dL equals 5.0 mmol/L.
Your doctor interprets numbers in context — age, pregnancy, type of diabetes, medicines, and whether you have heart or kidney disease all influence the right target for you.
Normal and target ranges for adults
| Test | Normal (no diabetes) | Prediabetes | Diabetes target (general) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting plasma glucose | 70–99 mg/dL (3.9–5.5) | 100–125 mg/dL | 80–130 mg/dL |
| 2-hour after 75g OGTT | <140 mg/dL | 140–199 mg/dL | — |
| Random glucose + symptoms | <200 mg/dL | — | — |
| Post-meal (1–2 hr) | <140 mg/dL ideal | — | <180 mg/dL |
| HbA1c | <5.7% | 5.7–6.4% | <7% (individualised) |
Why Indian populations may need earlier screening
ICMR and national guidelines recommend screening Asian Indian adults for type 2 diabetes from age 30 if overweight or with risk factors, and from age 25 in some high-risk groups. Family history, central obesity, PCOS, gestational diabetes history, hypertension, and sedentary lifestyle all justify earlier testing.
Many Indians develop diabetes at lower BMI than global thresholds. Waist circumference — above 90 cm for men and 80 cm for women in South Asia — is often a better warning sign than weight alone.
When to test at home
If you have diabetes, home monitoring helps you learn how roti, rice, fruit, stress, and walking affect you. Typical patterns: check fasting on waking, before lunch if on insulin or sulfonylureas, and occasionally two hours after your largest meal. Write readings in a log — paper or the DIABEETS blood sugar log tool.
A single high reading is not an emergency unless you have symptoms of hyperglycaemia with illness, or hypoglycaemia below 70 mg/dL with shaking, sweating, or confusion. When in doubt, contact your care team.