How often do I need to check my blood sugar?

How often do I need to check my blood sugar?

How often you need to check your blood sugar depends upon how the information that blood sugar testing provides will be used. All too often, people with diabetes are instructed to test their blood sugar frequently and yet neither they nor their physician or other caregivers make significant use of the information. Generally, when treatment (such as the amount of insulin to be taken before the next meal) is not being adjusted immediately or even day to day, there is little justification for very frequent testing. Except for people who cannot or will not test, all people with diabetes should be prepared to check their blood sugar frequently when they are sick, under severe physical stress, or taking medications that are known to markedly affect the blood sugar level, such as steroids. Examples of possible glucose monitoring
schedules for various circumstances are shown in Table 7.

Advice:
How often you need to check your blood sugar depends upon how the information that blood sugar testing provides will be used.

Table 7 Glucose Monitoring Strategies

Type of Diabetes	Testing Strategy
Type 1, 2, or GDM on intermit- tent insulin 2 to 4 times daily	Before meals, bedtime, occ. after meals, & during night
Type 1 or 2 on continuous insulin infusion (pump)	Before meals, bedtime, sometimes after meals, & during night
Type 2 on oral antidiabetic pills (OADs)	Before breakfast and supper alternating with before lunch and bedtime, 3 days/week
Type 2 or GDM on lifestyle intervention	As for type 2 on OADs, 1 to 3 days/week
All types, when sick or unstable	As needed to intervene effectively, q2-hours if needed