Diabetes

One Drop Guide to Checking Blood Sugar

Rachel Sanchez-Madhur

May 09, 2018

Everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar. It can be a pain, but the truth is -- it's one of the best things you can do for your health.

And, even if you don't have diabetes, checking your blood sugar can be one of the most insightful things you can do to better understand how your body works!

Checking your blood sugar lets you know how your body is doing at any point in time and empowers you to make healthy choices at those times.

Believe it or not, there's a science to it. ⚗ If you've just been diagnosed with diabetes, or you need a refresher (we all do at some point!), this guide shows you how to check blood sugar in ways both impactful & insightful.

Download the One Drop Guide to Checking Blood Sugar!

You Can Only Manage What You Measure

We need to know how to check blood sugar in a structured way so that we can:

👉 Spot trends

👉 Pinpoint problem areas

👉 Make the changes you need to stay in range and on track!

Fun Fact: Studies show that checking blood sugar at regular times throughout the day significantly reduces A1C.

Why and How To Check Blood Sugar

The why

This may seem obvious, but a reminder is always helpful :) At One Drop, we believe the more we check, the better we manage.

We see it firsthand, everyday! From those of us here at One Drop who have diabetes, as well as feedback from our One Drop family.

When we check often, we're able to make actionable, data-driven changes to our diabetes management methods. And that's what we like to call #diabadass.

The how

It's easy! Here's how to check blood sugar, just follow these steps:

1️⃣ Wash your hands with soap and water

2️⃣ Insert a test strip into your meter

3️⃣ Prick the side of any fingertip

4️⃣ Squeeze out a drop of blood

5️⃣ Touch the drop to the test strip

6️⃣ Wait a few seconds for the result

To get the best results:

✓Check frequently

✓Analyze your data regularly

✓Make changes as needed

Even More Awesome Pro-Tips

Checking frequently is great! But to get the most out of your glucose data, you need to check at the right times:

first thing in the morning ☀

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 110 mg/dL ( 3.9 mmol/l & 6.1 mmol/l)

before you eat 🥓

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 110 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l & 6.1 mmol/l)

2 hours after you eat 🕘

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 140 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l & 7.8 mmol/l)

before exercise 🏋️‍♂️

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 140 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l & 7.8 mmol/l)

after exercise 🕤

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 140 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l & 7.8 mmol/l)

before bedtime 🛌

blood sugar target between 70mg/dL & 140 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/l & 7.8 mmol/l)