Diabetes: Checking your blood sugar

Your doctor will most likely take a sample of blood from a vein to test your blood sugar level in his or her office or lab every 3 to 4 months. The blood sample is used for two tests: 1) to check your blood sugar level at the time of the test (blood glucose test), and 2) to measure how well your blood sugar has stayed within your target range over the past 2 to 3 months (hemoglobin A1c test or a similar test called glycohemoglobin). You may not get the results from these tests for a few hours or even a few days.

Because you have diabetes, you need to know what your blood sugar level is every day. Many years ago, the only way people with diabetes could check on the control of their diabetes was by testing their urine for sugar. Urine testing is not an accurate way to test your blood sugar level and is not recommended.

You can check blood sugar level anytime and anywhere by using a home blood sugar meter. This is often referred to as home blood sugar monitoring or self-testing. Your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar level several times a day, especially if you take insulin.

To test your blood sugar level using a blood sugar meter, prick the side of your fingertip with a small needle (lancet) to collect a drop of blood. Some blood sugar sampling devices allow you to prick other sites on your body, such as your forearm. Place the drop of blood on a special test strip inserted into your meter. (For some meters, the blood is put on the test strip before it is put in the meter.) Within a minute or less, the meter shows the results of your test. See a picture series of how to test your blood sugar at home.

Continue to Why monitor your blood sugar?

Return to Diabetes: Checking your blood sugar