In the United States, blood glucose concentration is expressed in mg/dL. However

ID: 3523269 • Letter: I

Question

In the United States, blood glucose concentration is expressed in mg/dL. However, the international standard is to report blood glucose in mmol/L. You are checking your patient’s blood glucose level and your finger-stick glucose meter (glucometer) is stuck on the mmol/L setting. It displays a value of 3.4 mmol/L. Is this value within the typical range for blood glucose?

1. Convert 3.4 mmol/L to mol/L.

2. What is the molecular weight of glucose? Complete the following table. Round atomic mass to the nearest whole number.

3. What is the molecular weight of glucose? Complete the following table. Round atomic mass to the nearest whole number.

4. How many milligrams are in one gram?3. What is the mass of one mole of glucose?

5. How many deciliters are in one liter?

6. What is the patient’s blood glucose concentration in mg/dL?

7. What is the typical range for glucose in the blood (in mg/dL)?

8. Is the patient’s blood glucose reading within the typical range?

Element Symbol Atomic Mass (amu) x #of Atoms in a Glucose Molecule = Total Mass (amu) C x 6 = Hydrogen x 12 = 12 16 x =

Explanation / Answer

Answer1

1 mmol/L = 0.001 M; 1 M = 1000 mmol/L

So,

3.4 mmol/L * 1000 = 0.0034 M

Answer 2 & 3

Molecular weight of glucose = 180 g/mol

Table

Element

Symbol

Atomic Mass (amu)

#of Atoms in a Glucose Molecule

Total Mass (amu)

carbon

Hydrogen

Oxygen

Answer 4

1000 milligram in 1 gram, the mass of one mole of glucose is 180

Answer 5

10 deciliters

Answer 6

70 to 130 mg/dL is the patient’s blood glucose concentration

Answer 7

70–99 mg/dl is the typical range for glucose in the blood

Answer 8

Yes for normal it would be 70-99mg/dl for pre meal , after meal it would be 80-130 mg/dl