Medical Unit Converter
Convert between mg/dL and mmol/L for blood glucose, cholesterol, and other common lab values.
Essential for understanding international medical reports.
Medical unit conversions are essential for interpreting lab results, medication dosing, vital signs, and anthropometric measurements when records come from different countries or healthcare systems. Errors in unit conversion in medical contexts can have serious consequences — always double-check calculations for medication dosing.
Weight conversions: kg → lbs: Weight (lbs) = Weight (kg) × 2.20462 lbs → kg: Weight (kg) = Weight (lbs) ÷ 2.20462 stones → kg: Weight (kg) = Stones × 6.35029
Height conversions: cm → inches: Height (in) = Height (cm) ÷ 2.54 cm → feet+inches: Feet = floor(cm ÷ 30.48); Inches = (cm − Feet × 30.48) ÷ 2.54 inches → cm: Height (cm) = Height (in) × 2.54
Temperature conversions: °F → °C: T(°C) = (T(°F) − 32) × 5/9 °C → °F: T(°F) = T(°C) × 9/5 + 32
Volume (medication and fluids):
- 1 teaspoon (tsp) = 5 mL
- 1 tablespoon (tbsp) = 15 mL
- 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) = 29.574 mL
- 1 cup = 240 mL
- 1 pint = 473 mL
- 1 quart = 946 mL
Glucose/blood sugar conversions: mg/dL → mmol/L: mmol/L = mg/dL ÷ 18.018 mmol/L → mg/dL: mg/dL = mmol/L × 18.018
Normal glucose ranges:
- Fasting: 70–99 mg/dL (3.9–5.5 mmol/L)
- Prediabetes: 100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L)
- Diabetes: ≥ 126 mg/dL (≥ 7.0 mmol/L)
Worked example: Patient records from UK: Weight 14 stone 3 lbs, height 5'10", glucose 6.2 mmol/L, temperature 38.1°C.
- Weight: (14 × 14 + 3) = 199 lbs = 199 ÷ 2.205 = 90.2 kg
- Height: 5'10" = (5 × 12 + 10) = 70 in = 70 × 2.54 = 177.8 cm
- Glucose: 6.2 × 18.018 = 111.7 mg/dL (prediabetic range)
- Temperature: 38.1 × 1.8 + 32 = 100.6°F (low-grade fever)