How often you check your blood glucose level will depend on the type of diabetes you have, how your diabetes is treated, and whether you are meeting your blood glucose goals. It also depends on how often you want to or are able to check your blood glucose.
Those who take three to four injections of insulin a day or use an insulin pump will check their blood glucose most often. This is because they adjust the amount of insulin they take based on their blood glucose levels. Checking usually takes place before each meal, sometimes two hours after a meal, and at bedtime (before a snack, if you have one). Those who take two injections of insulin a day usually check their blood glucose less frequently, often just before breakfast and dinner, and at bedtime.
Blood glucose checking regimens vary the most for people with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin. When first diagnosed, it is helpful to know when your blood glucose is most elevated and how your body reacts to its usual food intake, so checking two to four times a day for several weeks is helpful. The times to check are before breakfast, before and two hours after your main meal, and at bedtime (before a snack if you have one). Then, depending on your treatment plan, if your blood glucose levels are nearing your target goals, you may want to do less checking. At this time, many people will check either twice a day at different times on different days, or three to four times a day once or twice a week.
Always consider increasing your frequency of blood glucose checks if you experience a new schedule, different physical activity, an illness, frequent low blood glucose episodes, a diabetes medication change, a new medication, dental work, or surgery.
Those who take three to four injections of insulin a day or use an insulin pump will check their blood glucose most often. This is because they adjust the amount of insulin they take based on their blood glucose levels. Checking usually takes place before each meal, sometimes two hours after a meal, and at bedtime (before a snack, if you have one). Those who take two injections of insulin a day usually check their blood glucose less frequently, often just before breakfast and dinner, and at bedtime.
Blood glucose checking regimens vary the most for people with type 2 diabetes who do not take insulin. When first diagnosed, it is helpful to know when your blood glucose is most elevated and how your body reacts to its usual food intake, so checking two to four times a day for several weeks is helpful. The times to check are before breakfast, before and two hours after your main meal, and at bedtime (before a snack if you have one). Then, depending on your treatment plan, if your blood glucose levels are nearing your target goals, you may want to do less checking. At this time, many people will check either twice a day at different times on different days, or three to four times a day once or twice a week.
Always consider increasing your frequency of blood glucose checks if you experience a new schedule, different physical activity, an illness, frequent low blood glucose episodes, a diabetes medication change, a new medication, dental work, or surgery.
