Blood glucose testing is a way of monitoring the levels of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It’s a key aspect of managing diabetes: Done regularly, it can indicate how well insulin supplements, medication,lifestyle changes, and other aspects of diabetes care are working to keep your glucose levels from spiking too high (hyperglycemia) or dipping too low (hypoglycemia).
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Either situation can cause damage to your body over many years, leading to potentially serious complications. Research has shown that regular glucose testing reduces the risk of that happening, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD).
To do this, you’ll use a device called a blood glucose meter that can measure the level of sugar in your blood, usually based on a single drop from your finger (although some monitors can beused on the forearm, thigh, or fleshy part of the hand). Most devices are designed to do single tests, but there are some that providecontinuous glucose monitoring(CGM).
What Is a Sensor-Augmented Insulin Pump (SAP)?
Who Should Monitor Blood Glucose?
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that, for ideal use and implementation, anyone prescribed continuous glucose monitoring should receive robust education, training, and support and should be able to perform self-monitoring of blood glucose in order to calibrate their monitor and/or verify readings if they don’t represent their symptoms.
It will be helpful to keep alogof your results, as well as details about what you’ve eaten throughout the day and how much physical activity you’ve gotten. With this information, you and your healthcare provider can get a grasp on how certain foods or activities affect your blood sugar and what adjustments you should make to meet your target goals.
Type 1 Diabetes
According to the Mayo Clinic, this may mean testing four to 10 times a day:
Situations in which it may be necessary to test more often include:
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas does not stop producing insulin altogether; instead, it produces less of it or the body becomes less sensitive to it. Depending on the extent to which this happens, a person with type 2 diabetes may need to take supplemental insulin, in which case blood glucose monitoring typically is recommended.
How often will depend on the type of insulin used. Someone who takes multiple injections throughout the day may need to test his or her blood glucose level before meals and at bedtime, according to the Mayo Clinic. For those who take only long-acting insulin, testing twice a day is often enough.
ADA advises doing a blood sugar check any time symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia appear.
Overview of the Types of Insulin
Gestational Diabetes
Most women who develop diabetes during pregnancy will be advised to test their blood sugar up to five times a day. Here’s when:
Blood Glucose Testing and Prediabetes
It will be at regular yearly checkups that a person with prediabetes will have their blood glucose measured. This is usually done with a blood test called the A1C that can measure average glucose levels over the previous two to three months.
What to Know About the A1C Blood Test
However, if you’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes, it can’t hurt to ask your healthcare provider about monitoring your blood glucose. Doing so will tell you where your blood sugar is every day—information that could help to motivate you to continue to make the changes and take the steps that will help to prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Know your blood sugar numbers: Use them to manage your diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes: Monitoring your blood sugar.American Diabetes Association.7. Diabetes technology: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S97-S112. doi:10.2337/dc22-S007Mayo Clinic.Blood sugar testing: Why, when, and how.American Diabetes Association.6. Glycemic targets: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S83–S96. doi:10.2337/dc22-S006American Diabetes Association.15. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S232–S243. doi:10.2337/dc22-S015American Diabetes Association.5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S60–S82. doi:10.2337/dc22-S005
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Know your blood sugar numbers: Use them to manage your diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes: Monitoring your blood sugar.American Diabetes Association.7. Diabetes technology: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S97-S112. doi:10.2337/dc22-S007Mayo Clinic.Blood sugar testing: Why, when, and how.American Diabetes Association.6. Glycemic targets: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S83–S96. doi:10.2337/dc22-S006American Diabetes Association.15. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S232–S243. doi:10.2337/dc22-S015American Diabetes Association.5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S60–S82. doi:10.2337/dc22-S005
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Know your blood sugar numbers: Use them to manage your diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes: Monitoring your blood sugar.American Diabetes Association.7. Diabetes technology: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S97-S112. doi:10.2337/dc22-S007Mayo Clinic.Blood sugar testing: Why, when, and how.American Diabetes Association.6. Glycemic targets: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S83–S96. doi:10.2337/dc22-S006American Diabetes Association.15. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S232–S243. doi:10.2337/dc22-S015American Diabetes Association.5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S60–S82. doi:10.2337/dc22-S005
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).Know your blood sugar numbers: Use them to manage your diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes: Monitoring your blood sugar.
American Diabetes Association.7. Diabetes technology: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S97-S112. doi:10.2337/dc22-S007
Mayo Clinic.Blood sugar testing: Why, when, and how.
American Diabetes Association.6. Glycemic targets: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S83–S96. doi:10.2337/dc22-S006
American Diabetes Association.15. Management of diabetes in pregnancy: Standards of medical care in diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1): S232–S243. doi:10.2337/dc22-S015
American Diabetes Association.5. Facilitating Behavior Change and Well-being to Improve Health Outcomes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022.Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Supplement 1):S60–S82. doi:10.2337/dc22-S005
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