When Should You Monitor Blood Sugar Levels and What Should They Be?

The secret to managing your blood sugar levels is to monitor your blood sugar at specific times during the day. You will be able to detect patterns and effectively deal with highs and lows, avoiding the unpleasant side effects associated with erratic sugar levels.

The easiest way to monitor sugar levels is with a home blood glucose monitor. These units are compact, discreet, and can deliver a result in seconds. A typical kit includes a battery operated monitor, chemically reactive testing strips and a spring loaded pen.

When loaded with a lancet (a tiny needle embedded in a plastic sheath), the pen can be pressed against the side of your fingertip or your forearm and discharged. The pinprick delivers results in a few drops of blood, one of which is applied to a testing strip. The strip is inserted into the monitor, and within seconds, a digital readout will show your current blood glucose level.

Type 2 diabetics should test in the morning, immediately before each main meal, two hours after each main meal, and just before bedtime or as advised by your doctor. Target ranges will vary according to specific conditions and physician instructions, but generally blood sugar levels should fall between 80 and 120 mg/dL (4.4 to 6.7 mmol/L) in the morning and before meals, below 160 mg/dL (8.9 mmol/L) two hours after meals, and between 100 and 140 mg/dL (5.5 to 7.8 mmol/L) at bedtime.

Tracking your glucose levels over time lets you see when you fall under or climb over your target ranges. Keeping a food diary and activity log will enable you to correlate what causes sudden highs or lows so you can adjust accordingly. Everyone's glucose tolerance is different, and figuring out the right balance of different foods can involve some trial and error.

Carry a small notebook in your testing kit to make notes throughout the day, and transfer your notes to a comprehensive ledger every night. You should record the date, time and result of each test, write down exactly when, what and how much you eat, and note the time and type of any physical activity. Soon you will begin to see patterns appear, and you can refine your habits to maintain a steady sugar level.

You'll also learn to correlate feelings of dizziness, nausea, irritability or weakness with spikes or drops in blood sugar. As your body settles into a stable routine and you learn what works for you, you may be able to cut back on testing to just a couple of times a day, or when you experience side effects that let you know something is wrong.

Would you like more information about alternative ways to handle your type 2 diabetes?

To download your free copy of my E-Book, click here now: Answers to Your Questions... its based on questions many diabetics have asked me over recent months.

Beverleigh Piepers is a registered nurse who would like to help you understand how to live easily and happily with your type 2 diabetes.
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