A 54-year-old male presents for an annual physical with no acute complaints. His fasting plasma glucose (FPG) returns at 94 mg/dL. Which of the following best characterizes this result?

Question

Accepted Answer

✅ A. Normal fasting glucose
A normal fasting plasma glucose is less than 100 mg/dL. This patient's FPG of 94 mg/dL falls squarely within the normal reference range (70–100 mg/dL) and requires no further glycemic workup at this visit. Routine screening should continue per USPSTF guidance (every 3 years in adults 35–70 with overweight/obesity or other risk factors).

❌ B. Prediabetes
Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose) is defined as FPG 100–125 mg/dL. This would apply if the patient's FPG had been, for example, 108 mg/dL — warranting lifestyle counseling, metformin consideration in select patients, and annual glucose monitoring.

❌ C. Diabetes mellitus
A diagnosis of diabetes requires FPG ≥126 mg/dL on two separate occasions, a random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, an A1c ≥6.5%, or a 2-hour OGTT ≥200 mg/dL. 94 mg/dL does not meet any threshold.

❌ D. Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is typically defined as a plasma glucose <70 mg/dL, often with autonomic or neuroglycopenic symptoms (Whipple's triad). 94 mg/dL is well above this threshold.

:::pearl
Memorize the fasting glucose thresholds cold: <100 normal, 100–125 prediabetes, ≥126 diabetes (confirmed on repeat testing).
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Glucose (fasting) — Normal Range & Interpretation

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