Check your blood sugar levels often, and write down the results. This will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes.
Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar every day. But some people may need to check it many times a day.
Usual times to test your blood sugar are before meals and at bedtime. Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood sugar.
Other times to check your blood sugar may be:
Have all test items within reach before starting. Timing is important. Clean the needle prick area with soap and water. Completely dry the skin before pricking.
Most glucose meters have test strips, small needles that fit into a spring-loaded plastic device, and a logbook for recording your numbers. There are many different kinds of meters. But they all work much the same way.
You can buy a testing kit from a pharmacy without a prescription. Your doctor or nurse can help you choose what’s right for you. They can also help you set it up and teach you how to use it.
You will prick your finger with the needle and place a drop of blood on a special strip. This strip measures how much glucose is in your blood. (Newer monitors can use blood from other areas of the body besides the fingers, reducing discomfort.) The meter shows your blood sugar results as a number on a digital display.
Keep a record for yourself and your health care provider. This will be a big help if you are having problems controlling your diabetes. It will also tell you what you did when you were able to control your diabetes. To get the most help with controlling your blood sugar, write down:
Most types of blood sugar meters can store hundreds of readings. This makes it easy to look back at your record and see where you may have had problems.
Saving your blood sugar information to your computer is an easier way to spot problems. Most meters:
You and your doctor should set a target goal for your blood sugar levels for different times during the day. If your blood sugar is higher than your goals for 3 straight days and you do not know why, call your doctor or nurse.
American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes -- 2010. Diabetes Care. 2010 Jan;33 Suppl 1:S11-61.