Fasting Glucose
Fasting plasma glucose measures blood sugar after an overnight fast and rises steadily with age, with the upper tail widening substantially in older adults due to the prevalence of undiagnosed and diagnosed diabetes in the general population.
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) is measured after a minimum 8-hour fast. These percentiles are derived from the full US population and include individuals with prediabetes and diabetes. The distribution is roughly symmetric in younger adults but becomes increasingly right-skewed with age as metabolic dysfunction becomes more common. Note: 1 mg/dL is approximately 0.0555 mmol/L.
Population Distribution
Box shows P25-P75. Line shows median (P50). Whiskers extend to P5 and P95. Hover for exact values.
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (mg/dL) | female (mg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 87.4–111 (99) | 83–114 (94) |
| 30-39 | 86–124 (101.9) | 85–128 (97) |
| 40-49 | 91–173.2 (104) | 86–149 (101) |
| 50-59 | 91–275.2 (106) | 88–160 (102) |
| 60-69 | 95–200 (113) | 90–169.1 (106) |
| 70+ | 95–194.9 (114) | 90–152 (105.6) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do these percentiles include people with diabetes?
These are population percentiles, not clinical reference ranges. They describe where values fall across the full US population, including people with prediabetes and diabetes. Clinical reference ranges (from labs like Labcorp or Quest) are derived from screened, presumed-healthy individuals and answer a different question.
Why does the upper end of the distribution rise so sharply with age?
As age increases, a growing proportion of the population has impaired glucose regulation, prediabetes, or diabetes. These individuals pull the upper tail of the distribution upward, so P75 and especially P95 increase substantially in older age groups even though typical (median) values rise only modestly.
How do I convert mg/dL to mmol/L?
Divide by 18.02 (or multiply by 0.0555). For example, 100 mg/dL is approximately 5.6 mmol/L. The mmol/L unit is used in most countries outside the United States.
Related Analytes
- hba1c - Metabolic panel (long-term glucose marker)