Blood glucose testing is one part of managing your diabetes successfully. Show
Testing your blood glucose both before and after a meal allows you to see how that meal affects your blood glucose levels and helps you to understand which meals may be best for your blood glucose control.
The most powerful influence on blood glucose levels comes from food. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes , the peak blood glucose levels are often likely to occur around two hours after meals. What is pre and post meal blood glucose testing?Pre and post meal testing allows you to see how your meal and, where relevant, your medication for that meal affects your blood glucose levels Post-prandial blood glucose measurements are commonly taken two hours after you have eaten. Pre-prandial and post-prandial means the same thing as before meal and after meal testing. Why is pre and post-prandial testing useful?If you test only before meals or only after meals, you don’t get to see how your levels are actually being affected by the meal itself. The advantage of testing in so called ‘pairs’ of before and after meal tests is that you can see how much your sugar levels have gone up (or even down) between meals. If your blood glucose levels tend to rise to high numbers after meals, it can leave you feeling tired and also could increase your likelihood of developing complications so there’s very good reasons behind testing before and after meals. Some people may be put off by seeing high after meal readings but this can represent a chance to re-evaluate your diet or meal choices or to discuss your regime with your doctor or consultant. What do pre-prandial blood glucose levels show?What the pre-meal test results show may differ slightly for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes Type 1 diabetes: Pre-meal tests are a good way of seeing whether you have injected the right size of dose for your previous meal. If it’s a pre-breakfast test, the result will show you whether your insulin to carbohydrate ratio was correct overnight. If you have injected too little insulin, you will see your pre-meal results are higher than they should be before your next meal. If you have injected too much, your test results will be too low before your next meal. If you have questions about insulin dosing , write these down and discuss these with your healthcare team. Type 2 diabetes: Your pre-meal tests can provide an indication of how well your body is coping, with support from any medication , with your previous meal. If you have high results, it may indicate that either the carbohydrate you are eating is too much or that your medication may not be adequate. If you have questions about your results and what they may be showing, ask your healthcare team. What are the recommended pre-meal blood glucose levels?The NICE guidelines for pre-meal blood glucose level targets are:
What influences post-prandial blood glucose levels?Your post-prandial blood glucose levels will largely be influenced by the meal you have eaten, the type and dose of medication you take and how sensitive your body is to insulin. Most people with diabetes can expect to see a rise in blood glucose levels for their after meal results. The NICE guidelines state the following post meal blood glucose level targets:
You may want to discuss your personal targets with your healthcare team. What if my test strips are limited?If the number of test strips you can have is limited, it makes making the most out of the test strips you have all the more important. You may not need to test before and after every meal, but any pair results you can take will greatly help your understanding of how the meals are affecting your levels. Page 1 of 2: Patient perspectives on Pre and Post Meal Testing >> Explore Diabetes Features It’s important to keep your blood sugar levels in your target range as much as possible to help prevent or delay long-term, serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Staying in your target range can also help improve your energy and mood. Find answers below to common questions about blood sugar for people with diabetes. How can I check my blood sugar?Use a blood sugar meter (also called a glucometer) or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to check your blood sugar. A blood sugar meter measures the amount of sugar in a small sample of blood, usually from your fingertip. A CGM uses a sensor inserted under the skin to measure your blood sugar every few minutes. If you use a CGM, you’ll still need to test daily with a blood sugar meter to make sure your CGM readings are accurate. When should I check my blood sugar?How often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines. Typical times to check your blood sugar include:
If you have type 1 diabetes, have type 2 diabetes and take insulin, or often have low blood sugar, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more often, such as before and after you’re physically active. What are blood sugar targets?A blood sugar target is the range you try to reach as much as possible. These are typical targets:
Your blood sugar targets may be different depending on your age, any additional health problems you have, and other factors. Be sure to talk to your health care team about which targets are best for you. What causes low blood sugar?Low blood sugar (also called hypoglycemia) has many causes, including missing a meal, taking too much insulin, taking other diabetes medicines, exercising more than normal, and drinking alcohol. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is considered low. Signs of low blood sugar are different for everyone. Common symptoms include:
Know what your individual symptoms are so you can catch low blood sugar early and treat it. If you think you may have low blood sugar, check it even if you don’t have symptoms. Low blood sugar can be dangerous and should be treated as soon as possible. How can I treat low blood sugar?If you’ve had low blood sugar without feeling or noticing symptoms (hypoglycemia unawareness), you may need to check your blood sugar more often to see if it’s low and treat it. Driving with low blood sugar can be dangerous, so be sure to check your blood sugar before you get behind the wheel. Carry supplies for treating low blood sugar with you. If you feel shaky, sweaty, or very hungry or have other symptoms, check your blood sugar. Even if you don’t have symptoms but think you may have low blood sugar, check it. If your blood sugar is lower than 70 mg/dL, do one of the following immediately:
Wait for 15 minutes and then check your blood sugar again. Do one of the above treatments again until your blood sugar is 70 mg/dL or above and eat a snack if your next meal is an hour or more away. If you have problems with low blood sugar, ask your doctor if your treatment plan needs to be changed. What causes blood sugar to be high?Many things can cause high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), including being sick, being stressed, eating more than planned, and not giving yourself enough insulin. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to long-term, serious health problems. Symptoms of high blood sugar include:
If you get sick, your blood sugar can be hard to manage. You may not be able to eat or drink as much as usual, which can affect blood sugar levels. If you’re ill and your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or above, use an over-the-counter ketone test kit to check your urine for ketones and call your doctor if your ketones are high. High ketones can be an early sign of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a medical emergency and needs to be treated immediately. What are ketones?Ketones are a kind of fuel produced when fat is broken down for energy. Your liver starts breaking down fat when there’s not enough insulin in your bloodstream to let blood sugar into your cells. What is diabetic ketoacidosis? If you think you may have low blood sugar, check it even if you don’t have symptoms. When too many ketones are produced too fast, they can build up in your body and cause diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is very serious and can cause a coma or even death. Common symptoms of DKA include:
If you think you may have DKA, test your urine for ketones. Follow the test kit directions, checking the color of the test strip against the color chart in the kit to see your ketone level. If your ketones are high, call your health care provider right away. DKA requires treatment in a hospital. DKA happens most in people with type 1 diabetes and is sometimes the first sign of type 1 in people who haven’t yet been diagnosed. People with type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA, but it’s less common. How can I treat high blood sugar?Talk to your doctor about how to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. Your doctor may suggest the following:
How do carbs affect blood sugar?Carbs in food make your blood sugar levels go higher after you eat them than when you eat proteins or fats. You can still eat carbs if you have diabetes. The amount you can have and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Counting carbs in foods and drinks is an important tool for managing blood sugar levels. Make sure to talk to your health care team about the best carb goals for you. What is the A1C test?The A1C test is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 or 3 months. The test is done at a lab or your doctor’s office in addition to—not instead of—regular blood sugar testing you do yourself. A1C testing is part of the ABCs of diabetes—important steps you can take to prevent or delay health complications down the road:
The A1C goal for most adults with diabetes is between 7% and 8%, but your goal may be different depending on your age, other health conditions, medicines you’re taking, and other factors. Work with your doctor to establish a personal A1C goal for you. What else can I do to help manage my blood sugar levels?Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting regular physical activity can all help. Other tips include:
How can I pay for tests and diabetes supplies?Medicare, Medicaid, and most private insurance plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar test as well as some diabetes supplies. Check your plan or ask your health care team for help finding low-cost or free supplies, and see How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more resources. What should my blood sugar be after 2 hours after eating?A blood sugar target is the range you try to reach as much as possible. These are typical targets: Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL. Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL.
What should blood sugar be 1 hour after eating?Experts vary on what the number should be, but the ADA says a general goal is a blood sugar level under 180 mg/dL, 1 to 2 hours after a meal.
Is 200 blood sugar normal after eating?Less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) is normal. 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher after two hours suggests diabetes.
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How long after eating should you take your blood sugar
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