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Can Anyone Tell Me The Guidelines On Checking My Blood?

A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question πŸ’­
Laurens, SC

My blood ranges tend to jump all over and I don't know what is normal. It was 212 yesterday and I was so tired I took my meds laid down slept for an hour got up it was 106. Then an hour later it was 45 and I was shaking and sweating. Now this morning it's 196. I just don't understand.

January 17, 2023
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A DiabetesTeam Member

Here are some guidelines on checking your blood sugar:

- Frequency:
- For type 1 diabetes: 4 to 10 times per day.
- For type 2 diabetes: Depends on your treatment plan. Common times include before meals, about two hours after meals, before bed, and before changing medications.

- Methods
- At-home blood glucose Show Full Answer

Here are some guidelines on checking your blood sugar:

- Frequency:
- For type 1 diabetes: 4 to 10 times per day.
- For type 2 diabetes: Depends on your treatment plan. Common times include before meals, about two hours after meals, before bed, and before changing medications.

- Methods:
- At-home blood glucose monitor: Place a drop of blood from your finger on a test strip inserted into the monitor.
- A1c test: Measures average blood sugar over the past three months.
- Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): Provide real-time glucose readings.

- Recording: Write down your numbers and take them to your appointments.

- Consultation: Always check with your healthcare team for personalized advice.

For more detailed information, you can refer to the resources provided by your healthcare team or trusted references like the CDC.

July 10
A DiabetesTeam Member

Have you consulted a nutritionist?

January 21, 2023
A DiabetesTeam Member

@A DiabetesTeam Member we check our blood sugars to achieve 2 goals (unless we are just nosey and want to know)

Typically if your Doctor wants/needs you to test they will give you a schedule.

Some common, "diagnostically relevant" times that the Doc will use are:

Fasting - as soon as you get up before you have eaten or drank anything, even before you brush your teeth
(doctor uses this number to determine dosages for Metformin and/or Long Acting (Basil) Insulin)

Pre-Prandial (fancy name for "before you eat")
(same diagnostic relevance as above)

Post-Prandial (ditto but taken exactly 2 hours after you take "the first bite of a meal", not when you finish - in the UK they want this reading taken at 1 1/2 hours after the first bite - not better/worse simply relevant to how they are using the number - taking it sooner or later messes up it's diagnostic value)

(this number tells the Doc if you need to add oral or injectable diabetes meds and how much)

Bedtime - pretty much reserved to those taking Basil Insulin - this gives the Doc another point of reference beside the Fasting Number to figure out the proper dose

For "other than the Doctors use":

If you are an Bolus (Mealtime) Insulin user or take Sulfonylurea Drugs (names end in "ide" such as Glyburide, Glipizide, Glimepiride - you get the idea) then you will typically test after a meal to ensure either they used enough medication to deal with high sugars from the meal OR that they didn't overdose (compared to what they ate) and they need to eat "more" to prevent low blood sugar (which is super dangerous)

None of the other meds besides Insulin or Sulfonylureas "typically" cause dangerously low blood sugar - so if you see a low and you are "not" taking them, you could have some other type of hormone imbalance messing with your blood sugar (but unlikely meds)

So depending on your medication(s) if any, your doctor should have given you specific instructions as to when to test

PS - in any case if you experience the symptoms of a low - sweats, disorientation, lack of balance etc, testing is a good thing so you can react and get something into you (typically 15 carbs worth and then test in 15 minutes to see if it's corrected without over correcting)

January 17, 2023 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

I can relate to this also I hope someone can explain it

January 17, 2023

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