The formula
Divide by 18. Or multiply by 18.
mg/dL to mmol/L: divide by 18 (precisely, 18.0182). 126 mg/dL ÷ 18 = 7.0 mmol/L.
mmol/L to mg/dL: multiply by 18 (precisely, 18.0182). 4.4 mmol/L × 18 = 79 mg/dL.
Why 18? A millimole of glucose weighs about 180 milligrams, so one millimole per liter is about 180 mg per liter, which is 18 mg per deciliter. By convention, mg/dL is rounded to a whole number and mmol/L to one decimal place.
70 mg/dL is 3.9 mmol/L and 180 mg/dL is 10.0 mmol/L. Together they are the default range Ando uses for time in range, in either unit.
Chart
mg/dL to mmol/L conversion chart
| mg/dL | mmol/L |
|---|---|
| 40 | NaN |
| 50 | NaN |
| 60 | NaN |
| 70 | NaN |
| 80 | NaN |
| 90 | NaN |
| 100 | NaN |
| 110 | NaN |
| 120 | NaN |
| 130 | NaN |
| 140 | NaN |
| 150 | NaN |
| mg/dL | mmol/L |
|---|---|
| 160 | NaN |
| 170 | NaN |
| 180 | NaN |
| 190 | NaN |
| 200 | NaN |
| 210 | NaN |
| 220 | NaN |
| 230 | NaN |
| 240 | NaN |
| 250 | NaN |
| 260 | NaN |
| 270 | NaN |
| mg/dL | mmol/L |
|---|---|
| 280 | NaN |
| 290 | NaN |
| 300 | NaN |
| 310 | NaN |
| 320 | NaN |
| 330 | NaN |
| 340 | NaN |
| 350 | NaN |
| 360 | NaN |
| 370 | NaN |
| 380 | NaN |
| 390 | NaN |
| 400 | NaN |
Chart
mmol/L to mg/dL conversion chart
| mmol/L | mg/dL |
|---|---|
| 2.0 | NaN |
| 2.5 | NaN |
| 3.0 | NaN |
| 3.5 | NaN |
| 4.0 | NaN |
| 4.5 | NaN |
| 5.0 | NaN |
| 5.5 | NaN |
| 6.0 | NaN |
| 6.5 | NaN |
| 7.0 | NaN |
| 7.5 | NaN |
| 8.0 | NaN |
| mmol/L | mg/dL |
|---|---|
| 8.5 | NaN |
| 9.0 | NaN |
| 9.5 | NaN |
| 10.0 | NaN |
| 10.5 | NaN |
| 11.0 | NaN |
| 11.5 | NaN |
| 12.0 | NaN |
| 12.5 | NaN |
| 13.0 | NaN |
| 13.5 | NaN |
| 14.0 | NaN |
| 14.5 | NaN |
| mmol/L | mg/dL |
|---|---|
| 15.0 | NaN |
| 15.5 | NaN |
| 16.0 | NaN |
| 16.5 | NaN |
| 17.0 | NaN |
| 17.5 | NaN |
| 18.0 | NaN |
| 18.5 | NaN |
| 19.0 | NaN |
| 19.5 | NaN |
| 20.0 | NaN |
| 20.5 | NaN |
| 21.0 | NaN |
| 21.5 | NaN |
| 22.0 | NaN |
Around the world
Who uses mg/dL, who uses mmol/L
Glucose meters and CGM apps show the unit used where they are sold, so traveling, moving or reading a forum from another country means converting.
mg/dL is used in the United States, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Japan, India and Brazil, among others.
mmol/L is used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Nordic countries, South Africa and China, among others.
Some countries use both, depending on the lab or the device. When you set up Ando, it picks the unit most common in your country, and you can switch at any time in the settings.
FAQ
Questions people ask
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide the mg/dL value by 18. For example, 180 mg/dL ÷ 18 = 10.0 mmol/L. For a more precise result, divide by 18.0182, the factor this converter and the Ando app use.
How do I convert mmol/L to mg/dL?
Multiply the mmol/L value by 18. For example, 5.5 mmol/L × 18 = 99 mg/dL. With the precise factor (18.0182) you get 99.1, which rounds to 99 mg/dL.
Why is the conversion factor 18?
A millimole of glucose weighs about 180 milligrams. One mmol per liter is therefore about 180 mg per liter, which is 18 mg per deciliter. The exact figure, 18.0182, comes from the molar mass of glucose.
Should I use 18 or 18.0182?
For everyday reading, 18 is close enough: the two never differ by more than a few tenths of a mg/dL in the usual glucose range. Apps and labs round the result anyway, mg/dL to a whole number and mmol/L to one decimal.
Does this converter work for cholesterol or other lab values?
No. The factor 18 applies to glucose only. Cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and other substances have different molar masses, so they need different factors.
Can Ando show my glucose in mmol/L?
Yes. Ando shows glucose in mg/dL or mmol/L. It picks a default from your country when you sign up, and you can change the unit in the app settings at any time.