Patient education: Keeping track of your blood sugar (The Basics)

Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.

Why is it important to keep track of my blood sugar? — People with diabetes need to keep their blood sugar under control. If your blood sugar gets too high or too low, it can cause serious problems.

Different things can affect your blood sugar. These include what you eat, how much you exercise, what medicines you take, and your overall health. Checking your blood sugar at home and carefully tracking your levels can help you and your doctor notice patterns or changes. This will make it easier to know when you need to change your habits or medicines.

Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about what your blood sugar goal should be. Make sure that you know:

●How to check your blood sugar

●How often to check your blood sugar

●When to call your doctor or nurse

How do I keep track of my blood sugar? — There are different ways to do this. Some blood sugar monitors save this information for you. There are also smartphone apps you can use. Some doctors' offices have an online "portal" they can use to see your blood sugar results. Or your doctor or nurse might ask you to share your results by email or phone.

Some people prefer to use a paper chart to keep track of their blood sugar. You can print out this chart (form 1) and write down the number each time you check your blood sugar level. Bring the chart with you every time you see your doctor or nurse.

More on this topic

Patient education: Checking your blood sugar at home (The Basics)
Patient education: Checking your child's blood sugar level (The Basics)
Patient education: Managing blood sugar in children with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Low blood sugar in people with diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Type 1 diabetes (The Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes (The Basics)

Patient education: Glucose monitoring in diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) in people with diabetes (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 1 diabetes: Overview (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Type 2 diabetes: Overview (Beyond the Basics)

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Feb 02, 2024.

Disclaimer: This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider's examination and assessment of a patient's specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms. 2024© UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates and/or licensors. All rights reserved.

Topic 143171 Version 1.0

خرید پکیج

Patient education: Keeping track of your blood sugar (The Basics)