How To Check Blood Glucose
Blood Glucose Monitoring
Blood Glucose Monitoring is the only way to know how your body responds to food, medication, activity and stress. This helps you and your doctor know how well your care plan is working.
People with diabetes who take insulin should always monitor their blood glucose. People with type 2 diabetes who take diabetes pills should check with their doctor about whether and how often they need to monitor.
People with diabetes who take insulin should always monitor their blood glucose. People with type 2 diabetes who take diabetes pills should check with their doctor about whether and how often they need to monitor.
What does blood glucose monitoring involve?
- Blood glucose monitor: a small device to analyze your blood glucose
- Lancet: a small needle
- Lancet device: a needle holder which helps poke your finger or arm
- Test strip: a thin piece of plastic on which a tiny drop of blood is placed inside the monitor
When to test?
Check with your health care provider about a plan outlining when you should check. You can test:
- Before meals or two hours after meals
- Before and after exercise
- Before bedtime
- When you don't feel well
- When you change medicines
Record your results for a few weeks and look at patterns. Do you see a pattern at a particular time? Ask your doctor for help in what the numbers mean. Knowing what the numbers mean and how to handle them is the key to managing diabetes.
This information is a summary from the "Your First Year with Diabetes" and is provided with the permission of the American Diabetes Association.
It is a comprehensive book and recommended by the American Diabetes Association for newly diagnosed individuals.
Click on the image to go to the American Diabetes Association bookstore.
Note: Care4life has no commercial interest in any of the books or resources it recommends.