Which fasting blood sugar laboratory result should a medical assistant recognize as abnormal?

A fasting blood sugar level of 101 mg/dL in a nondiabetic individual is recognized as abnormal because it falls into the range indicative of prediabetes. According to guidelines from organizations such as the American Diabetes Association, normal fasting blood sugar levels are typically less than 100 mg/dL. When levels reach 100 to 125 mg/dL, this suggests an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, categorizing the individual as prediabetic.

On the other hand, the other options present values that are either within normal ranges or acceptable for individuals with diabetes. For instance, fasting blood sugar levels below 100 mg/dL are considered normal for nondiabetics, and a level of 90 mg/dL is well within that range. For someone with diabetes, a fasting blood sugar of 90 mg/dL is also acceptable, falling within the target range for good glycemic control, especially during fasting states. Finally, while 110 mg/dL is above the normal fasting threshold, it does not indicate an abnormal level as it is not yet classified as diabetes or prediabetes but does indicate a need for closer monitoring.

Therefore, the 101 mg/dL reading for a nondiabetic stands out as abnormal