An adult patient weighting 70 kg has fasting blood sugar 180 mg/dl. He is having
**Core Concept**
The patient's fasting blood sugar level of 180 mg/dl indicates hyperglycemia, which can be due to impaired glucose regulation, insulin resistance, or diabetes mellitus. This condition can result from various pathophysiological mechanisms, including impaired insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or both.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The patient's fasting blood sugar level of 180 mg/dl suggests that he may have impaired glucose tolerance or mild diabetes mellitus. Impaired glucose tolerance is characterized by a fasting blood glucose level between 110-125 mg/dl, while a level of 126 mg/dl or higher is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus. The patient's fasting blood sugar level of 180 mg/dl is close to the diagnostic threshold for diabetes mellitus. The pathophysiology of impaired glucose regulation involves insulin resistance, where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect as it does not provide a specific diagnosis or classification of the patient's condition. A fasting blood sugar level of 180 mg/dl can indicate impaired glucose tolerance or mild diabetes mellitus.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect as it does not provide a clear classification or diagnosis of the patient's condition. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is typically defined as a fasting blood glucose level between 110-125 mg/dl.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
It's essential to note that the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends using the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test to diagnose diabetes mellitus, which measures average blood glucose levels over the past 2-3 months. A level of 6.5% or higher is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus.
**Correct Answer: C**