San Francisco Diabetes Resources

Should I check my blood sugar?

Checking blood sugars is a tool to help you understand your diabetes. 

Checking your blood sugar can help you to:

  • Understand how different foods affect your blood sugar
  • See if your medications are working
  • Know if your sugar is too low, too high, or in the safe range

Blood sugars are lower before you eat, and higher 1-2 hrs after you eat. This is true for people with diabetes and people who don’t have diabetes. If you could track the blood sugar inside your body, it might look like this: (IMAGE OF TID AC + HS BG). The safe level for your sugar before the meal is between 80-130 for most people. The safe level for your sugar 2 hrs after the meal is under 180 for most people. 

If you want to know how food affects your blood sugar, you could check before and 2 hrs after a meal. Try different foods, different portions. See this worksheet for an example.

There are many kinds of diabetes medications. Some medications are better at controlling the blood sugar before meals. Some medications are better at controlling the blood sugar after meals. Ask your provider how your medications work, the best time to take them, and when to check your blood sugar. 

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