What is the normal Fasting Blood Sugar Level?

Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Biochemistry & Nutrition

Easy

Appeared in: Uttarakhand CHO - 2021

Explanation

The correct option represents the widely accepted clinical range for normal fasting blood glucose.
A fasting blood glucose level in the range of 70-110 mg/dL indicates effective glucose regulation by hormones like insulin and glucagon.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a fasting plasma glucose level of less than 100 mg/dL is considered normal.
The range of 100-125 mg/dL is classified as Impaired Fasting Glucose (prediabetes), and a level of 126 mg/dL or higher on two separate occasions indicates diabetes mellitus.
Among the given choices, 70-110 mg/dL is the most appropriate answer, encompassing the normal range and the immediate post-normal values before prediabetes.

Option A: This range is too broad. The upper limit of 150 mg/dL is significantly above the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus (≥126 mg/dL).
Option B: This range is too narrow. While 70-80 mg/dL is a healthy fasting glucose level, it excludes many individuals whose normal fasting glucose is between 80 and 100 mg/dL.
Option D: This range is incorrect because the upper limit of 120 mg/dL falls within the prediabetes range (100-125 mg/dL).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Normal range for fasting blood sugar and diagnostic criteria for diabetes helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses play a critical role in educating patients on how to prepare for a fasting blood glucose test, which requires abstaining from food and drink (except water) for at least 8 hours.
Accurate interpretation of blood glucose levels is essential for identifying patients at risk, monitoring the effectiveness of treatment, and preventing acute complications like hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
What if? If a patient's fasting glucose is 128 mg/dL on a single test, the nurse should anticipate an order for a repeat test on a different day. A diagnosis of diabetes requires confirmation, typically with a second test showing a level of 126 mg/dL or higher.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question, which is asking for the 'normal' range of 'Fasting Blood Sugar'.
Recall the standard physiological values for blood glucose. The key is to remember the cutoff points for normal, prediabetes, and diabetes.
The normal fasting range is generally considered to be less than 100 mg/dL.
Evaluate the given options against this standard. Option A (70-150) is too high. Option B (70-80) is too narrow. Option D (70-120) includes the prediabetic range.
Select the option that best aligns with the clinical standard. Option C (70-110 mg/dL) is the most common and accepted range provided in many textbooks and clinical settings, even if modern guidelines specify <100 mg/dL as strictly normal.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Normal range for fasting blood sugar and diagnostic criteria for diabetes.
Stem keywords: Fasting Blood Sugar Level, normal
Lead-in keywords: What is
Negative lead-in flag: false

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