When to Test Your Blood Glucose

Ask your doctor or nurse educator how often you should check your blood glucose. Some people need to check several times a day; others may only need to check a few times a week.

You may want to check at different times of the day to get an idea of how well your treatment program is working for you.

Typical times to check are before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner, and before bedtime. Sometimes it is helpful to check blood glucose one or two hours after a meal to see the effect of food on your glucose levels.

There are certain times when you should check your blood sugar more often than usual:

• During periods of illness or stress
  
  
• When you suspect that your blood glucose is low or high.
  
  
• When there are changes made in your treatment program - such as a change in medication doses, meal plan or activity
  
  
• When taking new medications
  
  
• If you are pregnant