Checking Your Blood Sugar

Checking your blood sugars will help you keep your diabetes in control. Keeping a log of your results is very important. It can let you know if you are taking the right amount of insulin. It also helps you understand when you need to change your diet.

How do I check my blood sugar?

• Learn how to use your glucose monitor. Your care partner can help you.
• Always begin by washing your hands
• Stick your finger with a special needle, called a lancet, to get a drop of blood. Your lancet should never be reused and should be thrown away immediately
• Place the drop of blood on the test strip. Use the test strip only once. Test strips have expiration dates. Make sure you are not using an outdated strip.
• The meter will read your blood sugar level and show up as a number on the screen
• Test your blood sugar as often as your doctor orders. Record your blood sugar readings in your log

Tips for testing blood sugar:

• Prick the sides of your fingertip, not the fleshy part
• Other parts of your body can also be used, for example your upper arm, thigh or abdomen. However, always use your finger when you think your blood sugar is low
• Use all your fingers
• Milk your finger from the base to the tip to get a good drop of blood
• Hold your finger pointing down
• Dispose of lancets and test strips in a safe way
• Keep your glucose monitor clean

When should I check my blood sugar?

• Before meals
• 2 hours after any meal
• At bedtime
• Sometimes during the night

Checking your blood sugar at different times helps you assess the effect of food, exercise and medications on glucose levels and helps your health care team make the right changes to your treatment.

If you suspect you have low or high blood sugar, you should check immediately.

Additional tests may be needed when you are sick, when you are feeling stressful, or when you are changing your treatment.

It is also recommended that you check your blood sugar before driving, especially if you take insulin.

Checking your blood sugar before and after physical activity is also recommended. This helps you know when to take additional food or when to adjust your insulin. This will avoid low and high glucose levels during and after exercise.

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