Measuring Blood Sugar
Part of taking control of your diabetes is monitoring your blood sugar levels regularly.
It’s normal to feel scared or anxious about pricking your finger and checking your sugar levels.
But it’s important. Your sugar numbers give information about changes you and your doctor might need to make to control your sugar levels.
Why check?
You check your blood sugar for many reasons:
- To see how your diabetes is doing.
- To learn how your medicines are working to control your sugar.
- To see how different foods you eat can change your sugar levels.
- To learn how being sick or stressed can change your sugar levels.
How to check
Follow the steps in this booklet , to review step-by-step instructions about how to check your blood sugar with your meter.
Goals
It’s important to talk with your doctor about your blood sugar goals. Your doctor will explain what your blood sugar number should be, depending on the time of day that you test.
Your health care provider may have different blood sugar goals for you, but some healthy ranges include:
Fasting sugar
First thing in the morning, before eating or drinking
80 to 130
After meal sugars
1 to 2 hours after eating a meal
180 or lower
Keep track
Keep track of your numbers and bring them with you to your medical appointments so you and your doctor can create the best plan for your treatment. Download this chart to help keep track.
Every time you check your blood sugar, think about what may have caused the number. Your blood sugar can change because of stress, exercise, what you ate and when you took your medicine. Write your blood sugar levels down in a log book. This helps your provider and you make choices about your diabetes care.
Bring your log book to every visit with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist or dietitian.