Blood glucose monitoring is the primary tool to monitor blood glucose control. It can help people with diabetes and their care team identify

  • Trends in glucose control
  • Factors that cause high or low blood sugar
  • The need for changes in treatment

Most people with diabetes check their blood glucose before meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and before a bedtime snack. It is sometimes helpful to check blood glucose levels 2 hours after eating to see the effect of food on glucose levels.

Using a glucose meter and keeping a log of results is the best way to gauge how well a diabetes management plan is working.

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following targets for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes

  • A1C – 7% or below
  • Preprandial blood glucose (before meals): 70 – 130 mg/dl
  • Postprandial blood glucose (after meals): <180 mg/dl