2/11/2017 CheckingYourBloodGlucose(BloodSugar):AmericanDiabetesAssociation

American Diabetes Association

2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22202
1-800-DIABETES (800-342-2383)

Checking Your Blood Glucose

Blood glucose (blood sugar) monitoring is the main tool you have to check your diabetes control.
This check tells you your blood glucose level at any one time.

Keeping a log of your results is vital. When you bring this record to your health care provider, you
have a good picture of your body's response to your diabetes care plan. To help keep track of your
levels, we have an online tool Diabetes 24/7 (http://247.diabetes.org) or a printable blood glucose
log (http://professional.diabetes.org/pel/blood-glucose-log-english) . We also have a blood glucose log
that's smaller so you can carry it with you available for purchase (http://www.shopdiabetes.org/1320-
Diabetes-Checking-Account--Logbook-5-Pkg.aspx?loc=checkbg&source=dorg) .

Who Should Check?

Talk to your doctor about whether you should be checking your blood glucose. People that may
benet from checking blood glucose include those:
taking insulin
that are pregnant
having a hard time controlling blood glucose levels
having low blood glucose levels
having low blood glucose levels without the usual warning signs
have ketones from high blood glucose levels

How Do I Check?
1. After washing your hands, insert a test strip into your meter.
2. Use your lancing device on the side of your ngertip to get a drop of blood.
3. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood, and wait for the result.
4. Your blood glucose level will appear on the meter's display.

Note: All meters are slightly different, so always refer to your user's manual for specic
instructions.

Other tips for checking:

With some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or eshy part of your hand.
There are spring-loaded lancing devices that make sticking yourself less painful.
If you use your ngertip, stick the side of your ngertip by your ngernail to avoid having sore
spots on the frequently used part of your nger.

What Are the Target Ranges?

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What Are the Target Ranges?

Blood glucose targets are individualized based on:
duration of diabetes
age/life expectancy
comorbid conditions
known CVD or advanced microvascular complications
hypoglycemia unawareness
individual patient considerations.

The American Diabetes Association suggests the following targets for most nonpregnant adults
with diabetes. More or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for each individual.
A1C: 7%
A1C may also be reported as eAG: 154 mg/dl
Before a meal (preprandial plasma glucose):80130 mg/dl
1-2 hours after beginning of the meal (Postprandial plasma glucose)*: Less than 180 mg/dl

*Postprandial glucose may be targeted if A1C goals are not met (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-
care/blood-glucose-control/a1c/) despite reaching preprandial glucose goals.

What Do My Results Mean?

When you nish the blood glucose check, write down your results and review them to see how
food, activity and stress affect your blood glucose. Take a close look at your blood glucose record
to see if your level is too high or too low several days in a row at about the same time. If the same
thing keeps happening, it might be time to change your plan. Work with your doctor or diabetes
educator to learn what your results mean for you. This takes time. Ask your doctor or nurse if you
should report results out of a certain range at once by phone.

Keep in mind that blood glucose results often trigger strong feelings (http://www.diabetes.org/living-
with-diabetes/complications/mental-health/) . Blood glucose numbers can leave you upset, confused,
frustrated, angry, or down. It's easy to use the numbers to judge yourself. Remind yourself that
your blood glucose level is a way to track how well your diabetes care plan is working. It is not a
judgment of you as a person. The results may show you need a change in your diabetes plan.

What About Urine Checks for Glucose?

Urine checks for glucose are not as accurate as blood glucose checks and should only be used
when blood testing is impossible. Urine checks for ketones, however, is important when your
diabetes is out of control or when you are sick. Everyone with diabetes should know how to check
urine for ketones (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-
control/checking-for-ketones.html) .

For More Information

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For More Information

Use Diabetes 24/7, our free online tool, to track and analyze your blood glucose readings.
(http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/247.html?loc=checking-your-blood-
glucose)
Read about the latest advances in blood glucose meters in Diabetes Forecast's "2015
Consumer Guide". (http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2015/mar-apr/meters-does-your-device-
measure-up.html)
Managing Your Diabetes Glucose four-book set, available from ShopDiabetes.org
(http://www.shopdiabetes.org/534-SET-Managing-Your-Diabetes-Glucose.aspx?
loc=checkingbg&source=dorg)
Enroll in the free Living With Type 2 Diabetes program to get information and support.

Last Reviewed: March3,2015

Last Edited: August4,2016

Articles from Diabetes Forecast

magazine: (http://www.diabetesforecast.org)
(http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/become-a-member/?loc=articles)
Free! Medical Alert ID Cards (http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2015/jul-aug/free-
medical-alert-id-cards.html?loc=morefrom)

10 Ways to Prevent Low Blood Sugar (http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2014/07-

jul/10-ways-to-prevent-low-blood.html?loc=morefrom)

Defeating the Lowest Lows (http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2014/07-

jul/defeating-the-lowest-lows.html?loc=morefrom)

Helping First Responders Spot Lows

(http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2014/Jan/helping-rst-responders-spot.html?
loc=morefrom)

Redening Prediabetes to Prevent Complications

(http://www.diabetesforecast.org/2016/nov-dec/can-treating-prediabetes-like.html?
loc=morefrom)

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