Checking Your Blood Sugar

If you have diabetes, it’s important to measure your blood sugar at different times of the day and throughout the year. This will help you keep your levels within your target range and live well. 

At Banner Health, we’re here to make this important part of your daily routine a breeze. Find out when to test your blood sugar, how to test your blood and more.

What are blood sugar levels?

Blood sugar levels refer to the amount of sugar (glucose) in your blood. Glucose is a type of sugar you get from food and drink and is a vital source of energy for your body’s cells.

Everyone’s blood sugar levels go up and down throughout the day. If you have diabetes, however, these changes can be larger and happen more often. Maintaining the right balance of blood sugar is important for your overall health.

Why does regular blood sugar testing matter?

Testing your blood sugar is important because it helps you track how much sugar is in your blood. By monitoring, you can:

• Maintain control: Regular testing helps you control your diabetes by providing information about how your body responds to different factors such as diet, physical activity and medications.
• Prevent problems: Monitoring helps you know when your blood sugar might start going too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). Keeping blood sugar levels within your target range can also reduce the risk of complications with diabetes, such as heart disease, kidney problems and nerve damage. 
• Stay healthy: Keeping your blood sugar within your target range helps you feel better, have more energy and feel more confident about your diabetes care.

What is my target range?

Your target range in diabetes is a goal for your blood sugar levels. It’s the ideal range you want to stay within as much as you can.

Blood sugar goals can vary for each person, but a typical target range is from 70 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL before a meal and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after the start of a meal.

Your health care provider sets these target ranges based on your age, health, type of diabetes and other factors.

How do I check my blood sugar levels?

There are several ways to check your blood sugar levels: a blood test done every few months, blood tests taken every day and a system that monitors your blood sugar continuously throughout the day.

A1C test: The A1C test is also called the glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1C or HbA1C test. This blood test is a snapshot of your average blood sugar levels and helps spot trends over time. It may be recommended once a year if you have prediabetes or several times a year if you take insulin or have trouble keeping your levels within your target range.

Blood glucose meter: The blood glucose meter is also called a home blood sugar meter or a glucometer. This handheld device checks blood sugar levels using a small drop of blood from your fingertip. You use a tiny needle called a lancet to prick your finger, place the blood on a special test strip and insert the strip into the meter for a reading. 

Finger sticks need to be done several times a day (and sometimes at night) to help you improve control of your blood sugar levels. The results show if your blood sugar is within your target range and if you need to make changes to your diet, activity, insulin or other medications.

Your diabetes team will show you how to check your blood sugar, so ask them if you have any questions or concerns.

Continuous glucose monitor (CGM): This device uses a small sensor placed under the skin to measure your blood sugar all the time. Compared to traditional glucose meters, CGMs require significantly fewer or no finger sticks for testing.

The tiny sensor sends the information to a transmitter and then to a receiver (a handheld wireless device that resembles a smartphone), your insulin pump or smartphone app, showing if your blood sugar is going up, down or steady. CGMs can make alarm sounds or vibrate when levels are outside the healthy range.

Using a CGM does take some time to learn, and some costs are involved. Although health insurance and Medicare cover many devices, there are patient assistance programs from manufacturers that may help. 

To make the most of your device, talk to your diabetes care team for help on using and getting the best results.

Flash glucose meter: Similar to a CGM, flash glucose monitors are like smart stickers that you put on your skin to measure your blood sugar throughout the day. However, the flash glucose sensor only gives you a reading when you scan or “flash” the sensor with your smartphone or handset device.

A flash meter reduces the number of finger stick tests you need to do. It measures the amount of sugar in the fluid between blood vessels and cells (interstitial fluid). 

Talk to your health care provider and diabetes team to discuss what testing options best suit your needs.

When should I check my blood sugar levels?

You will need to check your blood sugar throughout the day, but when you check may depend on the type of diabetes you have and your treatment plan.

Here are some general guidelines for when to check your blood sugar levels:

• When you wake up: Check your fasting blood sugar level.
• Before meals: Check before meals, especially in the morning before breakfast.
• After meals: Check one to two hours after the start of a meal.
• Bedtime: Check before bed to ensure a stable level throughout the night.
• During exercise: Check your blood sugar before, during and after exercise to prevent hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. 
• When you are sick: During illness or periods of stress, check your blood sugar more often.
• Random checks: Perform checks every so often to monitor your levels during the day to look for patterns or trends.

What do I do with the results?

Keeping a record of your readings is helpful if you are going to use your results to manage your diabetes. If using a CGM this tracking can be done automatically and downloaded anytime to your computer or shared with your provider. These readings can alert you of any problems or trends. They can also help your health care provider make any needed changes in your meal plan, medication or physical activity.

Remember, your provider and diabetes team are there to support you. If you ever feel unsure or need help, reach out to them. Regular communication and changes to your plan based on your results are important to keep you healthy.

Next step: Lifestyle changes

Understanding blood sugar monitoring is just one part of managing diabetes. The next step involves making lifestyle changes. By making thoughtful choices in your daily life, you can take control of your health and improve your overall well-being.