Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsMonitoring Blood SugarTypes of TestsHow to TestUnderstanding ResultsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Monitoring Blood Sugar
Types of Tests
How to Test
Understanding Results
Frequently Asked Questions
This article discusses how to check your blood sugar at home, interpret your results, and why this is an important habit when you have type 2 diabetes.
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Type 2 Diabetes: Statistics and Facts
Diagnosing DiabetesType 2 diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests, such as:A1C levels(average blood sugar levels over two to three months)Fasting blood sugar test(blood sugar levels measured after fasting overnight)Glucose tolerance test(blood sugar levels taken before and after drinking a sugary drink)Random blood sugar test (blood sugar levels taken at any time)
Diagnosing Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests, such as:A1C levels(average blood sugar levels over two to three months)Fasting blood sugar test(blood sugar levels measured after fasting overnight)Glucose tolerance test(blood sugar levels taken before and after drinking a sugary drink)Random blood sugar test (blood sugar levels taken at any time)
Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed through blood tests, such as:
Monitoring Blood Sugar With Diabetes
Monitoring blood sugaris vital for helping to prevent serious health conditions that can develop from type 2 diabetes, such as:
Who Should Check Blood Sugar at Home?If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar several times each day at home.
Who Should Check Blood Sugar at Home?
If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar several times each day at home.
Types of Blood Sugar Tests
Blood sugar levels can be checkedintermittently with prick tests (using your finger, or other areas of the body) or with continuous glucose monitoring.
Prick Test
A tiny needle called a lancet is used to pierce the skin. A small amount of blood is placed on a test strip and inserted into the glucometer. The device then displays your current blood sugar levels in milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood (mg/dl).
The Best 4 Glucometers, Tested and Reviewed
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitoring(CGM) is achieved through a small sensor implanted just under the skin—typically in the upper arm or belly. This device measures glucose levels in fluid between your cells every few minutes, 24 hours per day. This information is sent to your phone or a separate device, such as aninsulin pump.
Continuous glucose monitoring devices can alarm you when blood sugar levels are too high or too low, which can help you avoid an emergency. However, these devices are expensive, and results still need to be confirmed twice daily with a traditional finger prick test.
Blood Sugar Monitors That Don’t Require a Finger Prick
Symptoms of Type 2 DiabetesIf you havesymptoms of type 2 diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider. These can include:Excessive thirstFrequent urinationFatigueTingling or numbness in hands or feetUnexplained weight lossWounds that have trouble healingBlurry visionIncreased hunger
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
If you havesymptoms of type 2 diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider. These can include:Excessive thirstFrequent urinationFatigueTingling or numbness in hands or feetUnexplained weight lossWounds that have trouble healingBlurry visionIncreased hunger
If you havesymptoms of type 2 diabetes, talk to your healthcare provider. These can include:
How to Test Your Blood Sugar
When to Test Blood Sugar
Blood sugar can be checked anytime, especially if you feel like it might be too high or too low. However, in general, blood sugar levels should be checked:
It’s also a good idea to check your blood sugar before and after exercise.
Tips for Getting Accurate Results
Many factors can affect the accuracy of your blood sugar test results, such as:
Be sure to follow your testing instructions closely and dispose of testing products that are expired or not working properly.
Other Testing OptionsIn addition to blood tests, blood glucose levels can be tested usingurineorcerebrospinal fluidsamples.
Other Testing Options
In addition to blood tests, blood glucose levels can be tested usingurineorcerebrospinal fluidsamples.
Understanding Results of Blood Sugar Testing
Your healthcare provider will determine your specific blood glucose target levels. However, in general, blood sugar should be between 80 and 130 mg/dL before a meal and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after you eat.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) occurs when blood sugar levels are below 70 mg/dL.Severe hypoglycemia—below 54 mg/dL—can lead to a life-threatening emergency.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia can include:
Symptoms of severe hypoglycemia require immediate medical attention. These include:
Once low blood sugar is detected, sugar is consumed to raise levels back to normal, often from juice, candy, soda, or glucose tablets.
Blood sugar levels can also be too high, causinghyperglycemia(high levels of calcium in the blood). Levels higher than 240 mg/dL can lead todiabeticketoacidosis(DKA), a medical emergency. This condition can lead to coma or even death.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia can include:
Hyperglycemia is often treated with aninsulin injection.
What Causes Ketoacidosis?
Summary
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects your body’s ability to properly manage blood glucose levels. Blood sugar levels need to be tested several times per day to ensure they stay within a healthy range—generally between 80 and 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating. Your healthcare provider will dictate exact instructions for the frequency of testing.
Blood glucose levels are most commonly tested with a finger prick test using a glucometer. However, continuous glucose monitoring devices can also be used.
A Word From Verywell
Type 2 diabetes is a condition that can lead to serious health problems if you don’t properly manage your blood sugar levels. Always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for testing and treating your condition.
Learn MoreBest At-Home Diabetes Tests
Symptoms that suggest your blood sugar levels might be out of normal range can include increased heartbeat, sweating, confusion, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth or skin, flushed face, increased urination, increased thirst, dizziness, difficulty walking, and seizures.Learn MoreWhat Are Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia?
Symptoms that suggest your blood sugar levels might be out of normal range can include increased heartbeat, sweating, confusion, weakness, headache, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth or skin, flushed face, increased urination, increased thirst, dizziness, difficulty walking, and seizures.
Learn MoreWhat Are Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia?
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.Type 2 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Blood glucose monitoring devices.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Glucose urine test.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
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.Type 2 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Blood glucose monitoring devices.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Glucose urine test.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
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.Type 2 diabetes.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Blood glucose monitoring devices.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Glucose urine test.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Type 2 diabetes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Blood glucose monitoring devices.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Continuous glucose monitoring.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage blood sugar.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Glucose urine test.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
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