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When Should You Check Blood Sugar


Check Your Blood Sugar If:

When should you test your Blood Sugar
  • You have symptoms of low blood sugar . This includes dizziness, shaking, sweating, chills, and confusion.
  • You have symptoms of high blood sugar , which include sleepiness, blurry vision, frequent urination, and excessive thirst.
  • You have a job in which poor blood sugar control could cause safety problems.
  • You need help deciding if its safe to drive or perform other tasks that require concentration if you are taking insulin or have had hypoglycemia in the past.

You need to learn how meals, physical activity, and medicine affect your blood sugar level.

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Complications Of High And Low Blood Sugar Levels

If you dont get treatment, high blood sugar levels can lead to long-term complications, including:

Before checking your blood glucose levels, make sure that you have:


  • a finger-stick device to prick your finger, such as a lancet
  • an alcohol swab to sterilize the puncture site
  • a blood glucose monitor
  • a bandage if bleeding continues beyond a few drops

Also, depending on the type of test youre taking, you may need to adjust your meal schedule or time it around your meal, depending on your doctors instructions.

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Is There A Best Time To Check Your Blood Sugar

Blood observing is the primary instrument you need to check your diabetes control. This check reveals to you your blood glucose level at any one time. For a diabetic its the best way to find out what your blood sugars are.

Its significant for blood glucose levels to remain in a sound range. On the off chance that glucose levels get excessively low, we can lose the capacity to think and function typically.

If they get excessively high and remain high, it can make harm or difficulties the body through the span of numerous years. This is not a good thing!


Keeping a log of your outcomes is crucial. When you convey this record to your social insurance supplier, you have a decent image of your bodys reaction to your diabetes care plan.

To help monitor your dimensions, we should have a printable blood glucose log. We additionally should have a blood glucose log that is little so that you can convey it with you accessible for procurement.

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Do I Have To Monitor My Blood Glucose Levels If I Am On Metformin

Do I have to monitor my blood glucose levels if I am on metformin? Not everyone agrees with me on this, but I very strongly feel that everyone with diabetes should be checking their blood sugar. Diabetes is a progressive disease, it will get worse on its own, even when you do everything right. I dont believe in giving diabetes any foothold, handhold, or toehold in your body and as such, the meter is the first line of defense to see change for the worst when it starts to happen. The meter is the sentinel in the watch tower. Now many people feel that diabetics who take oral meds with little to no risk of low blood sugar, like your metformin, dont need to be testing blood sugar because there is nothing the patient can do if they find they are high. Again, I disagree, and this time because the fact that there is nothing you can do is false. First and foremost you can look at what you did to get yourself high in the first place and avoid doing it again. Testing before and several hours after various meals will help you learn what foods your body can tolerate and which ones it cant. If you numbers are always depressingly high, no matter what you eat, then your therapy needs adjusting.Continue reading > >

Measuring Blood Sugar Levels Throughout The Day

How Do I Measure My Blood Sugar?

January 3, 2020 by Diabetes Care


Should you be measuring blood sugar levels throughout the day? While its true that people with diabetes should measure their blood sugar at regular intervals, there are some distinctions regarding how often to test. This is dependent on whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, and what medications you are taking.

The tables below summarize target blood sugar levels at different times of day, and how often you should be measuring your blood sugar dependent on factors such as what type of diabetes you have, how recently you were diagnosed, and what medications you take.

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Blood Sugar Testing Mistakes To Avoid

1 / 8 Understand Diabetes Testing If you have diabetes, it’s imperative that you learn to effectively self-test your blood sugar to keep your glucose levels in check. For example, results from a study of more than 5,000 people living with diabetes showed that even those people who don’t take medication for diabetes have better blood sugar control if they test regularly. The study participants’ risk of early kidney damage, strokes, and death from diabetes-related causes was also reduced by one-third. Of course, the accuracy of your results is tied to the accuracy of your checking and to your understanding of what all the numbers mean. “The most important point to me is that people are learning something from checking their blood sugar,” says Sacha Uelmen, RDN, CDE, director of nutrition for the American Diabetes Association. “Don’t just look at those numbers, write them down, and move on. If you have diabetes, take an active role in your health.” To get the most useful readings, learn these common blood sugar testing mistakes and how to avoid them.Continue reading > >

How Often Should I Be Tested For Prediabetes

Your healthcare provider will test for prediabetes using a hemoglobin A1c test, a blood test that measures your average blood glucose level over the last three months. If you fall into the prediabetes range of 5.8% to 6.4%, you will be tested every year. If your blood glucose levels are in the normal range, it is reasonable to be checked every 3 years. If you have prediabetes, you should be checked for type 2 diabetes every 1-2 years after your diagnosis. Continue Learning about Prediabetes Videos Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.Continue reading > >


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What Are Blood Sugar Levels

Your blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose levels, are a measurement that show how much glucose you have in your blood. Glucose is a sugar that you get from food and drink. Your blood sugar levels go up and down throughout the day and for people living with diabetes these changes are larger and happen more often than in people who dont have diabetes.

You can check your sugar levels yourself by doing a finger-prick test, by using a flash glucose monitor or with a continuous glucose monitor . You can do this a number of times a day helping you keep an eye on your levels as you go about your life and help you work out what to eat and how much medication to take. Find out your ideal target range.

But not everyone with diabetes needs to check their levels like this. Youll need to if you take certain diabetes medication. Always talk to your healthcare team if youre not sure whether thats you theyll give you advice on whether to check them yourself and how often.

And theres also something called an HbA1c, which measures your average blood sugar level from the previous few months. Everyone with diabetes is entitled to this check.


High blood sugar levels increase your risk of developing serious complications. However you manage your diabetes, stay in the know about your blood sugar levels.

Blood Sugar Instability Symptoms

When Should I Check My Blood Sugar Levels? Diabetes Education.

Insulin resistance does not happen all-of-a-sudden. Rather it builds over time and increasingly contributes to health problems. Understanding the signs of poor blood sugar control is the best way to be proactive in this regard. There are several telling signs that your body is not stabilizing blood sugar effectively.

Some of the most common include:

  • Cravings
  • Unstable Energy Levels
  • Sudden Intense Hunger

Most commonly, these symptoms arise simply because someone is consuming too many carbohydrates and sugar throughout the day. This is why I always start with a Keto Metabolic Makeover to kick start a fat-burning state and help people step off the blood sugar rollercoaster. If you are commonly experiencing these symptoms, it is imperative to test blood sugar levels periodically as these symptoms can be effectively controlled by doing so.

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How To Check Blood Sugar Levels

A health care professional will teach you and your child how to properly use a blood glucose meter.

  • Clean hands with soap and water. Make sure the finger is dry before obtaining the blood sample wet fingers can alter the value.
  • Prick the side of the fingertip. The forearm also can be pricked with certain meters using a lancet device. Do not use the forearm if you suspect a low blood sugar or when the blood sugar is rapidly changing, such as after meals or exercise.
  • Insert strip into meter.
  • Obtain a drop of blood.
  • Apply the drop of blood to a test strip.
  • Read the result and enter it in a logbook.

Bring the meter and logbook to all doctor visits.

What Is Flash Glucose Monitoring

A flash glucose monitor is a small sensor that you wear just under your skin. We call it Flash for short.

It records your glucose levels continuously throughout the day and night. You can find out your levels by scanning the sensor whenever you want to.

The sensor doesnt actually measure your blood sugar level, it measures the amount of glucose in the fluid that surrounds your body cells called interstitial fluid. There is a small time delay when checking this fluid, especially after eating or if youâre exercising. So your flash glucose monitor result isnât always exactly the same as your finger-prick result.


Flash is the most important tool I have . I use my Libre every single day, and it has vastly improved the quality of my life.

This means youâll still need to do a finger-prick check if youre thinking of changing your treatment at any point, like if you need to take more insulin or if youâre treating a hypo, so you can get the most accurate result.

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Other Reasons For High Morning Blood Sugar Levels

If you continuously wake up with high blood sugar levels and haven’t eaten a bedtime snack the night before, your doctor may need to prescribe you more basal insulin , says Dr. Spratt.

However, if you typically eat a snack that contains carbohydrates before going to bed and don’t counteract it with rapid-acting insulin, your blood sugar levels may be higher in the morning as a result. Switch to a snack that won’t raise your blood sugar levels for example, a pairing of ham and cheese or a few bites of non-sweetened peanut butter, she says.

Read more:How Long After Eating Does Blood Sugar Peak?


Lastly, if your blood sugar levels dip too low in the middle of the night, your body may release hormones that “rescue” you from dangerously low levels, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The result is that your liver releases stored glucose, causing your blood sugar levels to be higher than usual in the morning. This is called the Somogyi effect.

If you’re experiencing low blood sugar in the four to six hours after a meal, that’s a sign that your basal insulin dose is too high, says Dr. Spratt.

“A lot of people have lows of which they are not aware of,” she says. “They wake up and their blood sugar is high and assume they must need more insulin at night.” But, she explains, it’s important to check your blood sugar at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. to make sure you aren’t experiencing a drop in glucose levels.

What Are The Target Ranges

How often should you check your sugar levels? » Blog ...

Blood glucose targets are individualized based on:

  • duration of diabetes
  • conditions a person may have
  • cardiovascular disease or diabetes complications
  • hypoglycemia unawareness
  • individual patient considerations

The American Diabetes Association suggests the following targets for most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. A1C targets differ based on age and health. Also, more or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for each individual.


  • A1C: Less than 7%A1C may also be reported as eAG: Less than 154 mg/dL
  • Before a meal : 80130 mg/dL
  • 1-2 hours after beginning of the meal *: Less than 180 mg/dL

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What Are Target Blood Sugar Levels For People With Diabetes

A target is something that you aim for or try to reach. Your health care team may also use the term goal. People with diabetes have blood sugar targets that they try to reach at different times of the day. These targets are:

  • Right before your meal: 80 to 130
  • Two hours after the start of the meal: Below 180

Talk with your health care team about what blood sugar numbers are right for you.

How To Use A Blood Sugar Meter

There are different kinds of meters, but most of them work the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the benefits of each. In addition to you, have someone else learn how to use your meter in case youre sick and cant check your blood sugar yourself.

Below are tips for how to use a blood sugar meter.


  • Make sure the meter is clean and ready to use.
  • After removing a test strip, immediately close the test strip container tightly. Test strips can be damaged if they are exposed to moisture.
  • Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Dry well. Massage your hand to get blood into your finger. Dont use alcohol because it dries the skin too much.
  • Use a lancet to prick your finger. Squeezing from the base of the finger, gently place a small amount of blood onto the test strip. Place the strip in the meter.
  • After a few seconds, the reading will appear. Track and record your results. Add notes about anything that might have made the reading out of your target range, such as food, activity, etc.
  • Properly dispose the lancet and strip in a trash container.
  • Do not share blood sugar monitoring equipment, such as lancets, with anyone, even other family members. For more safety information, please see Infection Prevention during Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration.
  • Store test strips in the container provided. Do not expose them to moisture, extreme heat, or cold temperatures.
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    What Are Blood Sugar Targets

    A blood sugar target is the range you try to reach as much as possible. These are typical targets:

    • Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL.
    • Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL.

    Your blood sugar targets may be different depending on your age, any additional health problems you have, and other factors. Be sure to talk to your health care team about which targets are best for you.

    When You Are Sick

    How Often Should Diabetics Check Blood Sugar | The Diabetic Fighter

    Blood sugars are more difficult to manage when youre sick, so its more important than ever to check your blood sugar frequently if youre under the weather with anything from the common cold, to a nasty flu, to even fighting off an infection.

    Its often recommended to check as often as every 4 hours when sick, and to if:


    • Your blood sugar has been over 250 mg/dL for several hours and you have mild or moderate ketones
    • You cannot get your blood sugar above 70 mg/dL for several hours
    • You cannot keep liquids down
    • You have a temperature above 101 F
    • You have diarrhea and/or vomiting

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    Gaining Insights From Routine Blood Glucose Testing

    Day-to-day blood sugar checks can give you a good idea of how you’re doing at this moment, and they can be reviewed overall to see trends. They can help answer questions such as:

    • Are your medications working as they should?
    • How does the type or amount of food you eat affect your blood sugar?
    • How does activity or stress affect your blood sugar?

    How To Reduce Blood Sugar

    You can take steps to reach your blood sugar goals as soon as you find out that it is high. This is how to reduce blood sugar if you have a single high reading that may be dangerous:

    • Ask your doctor what to do if you missed a dose of insulin or another diabetes medication
    • Ask your doctor if your medication types and doses are still appropriate for you
    • Drink water to dilute the sugar
    • Exercise for 15 minutes
    • Eat a small protein snack, such as a hard-boiled egg, ½ ounce of peanuts or pistachios or other nuts, ½ cup of beans, or ½ cup of plain yogurt or cottage cheese

    If you have chronically high blood sugar in prediabetes or diabetes, you can follow this treatment plan:

    • Exercise regularly, assuming your doctor approves it
    • Lose weight if you are overweight or obese
    • Eat a higher proportion of vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and fruit
    • Limit sugary foods and beverages, fried foods, refined starches, and processed and fatty red meats
    • Beware of starchy vegetables such as sweet potatoes, which can spike your blood sugar. Check out our guide of which veggies to avoid!

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