When should you check your blood
sugar?
Everyone with diabetes
is different.
Talk to your doctor.
She'll come up with a plan just
for you.
But there are some times she
might tell you to test
your sugar, which is also called
glucose.
Your body releases sugar
throughout the night.
But in the hours before dawn,
other hormones in the body
can cause an increase in blood
sugar, so you may need to see
if your level is high when you
wake up.
Also, if you use insulin,
a morning test can help you
figure out how much to take.
Checking before meals
can give you an idea how
balanced your sugars are
during the day.
That, in turn, could help you
match the right amount
of insulin, exercise, or help
with meal planning.
Testing 2 hours after you eat
can show you what effect
your food and your insulin
had on your blood sugar.
Making sure your glucose is
stable before you work out
can help you avoid
dangerous highs or dips.
And checking your level
before bed could be a good idea
in case your sugars fluctuate
at night.
There are times you may need
to check your glucose more
often.
If you're actively losing
weight, it could boost
the effects
of any sugar-lowering meds
you're on.
If you get sick, your glucose
could go up as your body fights
the illness.
Or it could go down if you
aren't eating, you're vomiting,
or you have diarrhea.
Also, if you've changed diabetes
meds, testing your sugar more
often can help you find out
if they're working well.