Steps
How Do I Check My Sugar?
There are many ways to check your blood sugar at home, including:
- Glucometers, which provide single readings
- Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), which check your levels throughout the day
Connecting your glucometer or CGM to a tracking app via Bluetooth makes it easy to share readings with your provider.
If you aren’t sure if you need to check at home, please ask us.
If you aren’t sure if you need to check at home, please ask us.
When Should I Check My Sugar?
If we've asked you to check your blood sugar at home, you'll find personalized recommendations in your Diabetes Care Plan or in messages from your provider.
We may ask you to check:
We may ask you to check:
- While "fasting" (when you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything)
- Before a meal
- 1 to 2 hours after meals
- Before bed
If you've been told to check your blood sugar once per day, always take your reading when fasting.
If you've been told to check 2 or 3 times per day, always take your reading at fasting and at one of the other times above, switching between them, unless you've been given specific times.
If you have a CGM, it will automatically track throughout the day and night.
If you've been told to check 2 or 3 times per day, always take your reading at fasting and at one of the other times above, switching between them, unless you've been given specific times.
If you have a CGM, it will automatically track throughout the day and night.
What Is a Good Reading?
In general, you want to aim for:
- Fasting: 80 to 130 mg/dL
- 1 to 2 hours after a meal: less than 180 mg/dL
Your goal numbers may be different if you:
- Are pregnant.
- Are over 70 years old.
- Have other medical conditions.
Please ask us if you have questions.
What If My Blood Sugar Is Too High or Too Low?
If your blood sugar is consistently above 300 or less than 70, let us know so we can help.
High or low blood sugar can be dangerous. Please go to your local urgent care or emergency room (ER) for evaluation if:
High or low blood sugar can be dangerous. Please go to your local urgent care or emergency room (ER) for evaluation if:
- Your low blood sugar does not come up with treatment
or
- You feel sick with a blood sugar over 400
Keep in mind your blood sugar may act differently when you're sick.
Read more:
Read more:
Learn how to check your blood sugar at home and what to watch out for.
