Testing Your Blood Sugar

Knowing your blood sugar (also called blood glucose) numbers is important to managing your diabetes. Keeping track of your blood glucose helps you see how food, physical activity, and medicine affect your blood glucose levels.

Using a blood glucose meter

Checking your blood sugar is important for people with diabetes. A device called a blood glucose meter or blood glucose monitor can give you the information you need. These devices measure the glucose in the drop of blood you provide. Learn more about how to check your blood sugar on LevemirCare™.

Blood sugar levels throughout the day

There are 2 different ways for testing blood sugar levels:

• Fasting blood glucose: blood sugar level after not eating for 8 to 12 hours (usually overnight)
• Postprandial blood glucose: blood sugar level taken 1 to 2 hours after eating

The readings from your blood glucose meter can help you understand your insulin needs for these different times of the day. The chart below shows the expected range of glucose levels in most non-pregnant adults. Individual goals may vary and you should talk to your doctor about your goals.

Plasma Values
Fasting blood glucose	70 to 130 (mg/dL)
Postprandial blood glucose	Less than 180 (mg/dL)

People with diabetes often test blood glucose before and after meals. They may also check at bedtime. To know more about how often to check your blood glucose, consult with your doctor.

You should also keep a record of your blood glucose monitor readings and review them during doctor visits. To get started, use this blood sugar diary.

The A1C test

An A1C test is a blood sugar test that helps you and your doctor understand how well your treatment plan is working over time. For this test, your doctor will ask you to provide a small blood sample, which will be tested in a lab. The results from the A1C test will show your blood glucose level over the last 3 months.

Level of Control	A1C Number
Goal	Less than 7%
Take action	7% or more

This chart shows the range of A1C test results. Discuss your A1C test score with your doctor to find the A1C goal that’s right for you.

For most people with diabetes, an A1C test score of less than 7 is a good goal. If your result is 7 or more, you should talk to your doctor. If you and your doctor agree that your blood sugar levels are not well-controlled, you may need to change your treatment plan. Everyone’s needs are unique, so you should talk with your doctor about how to lower your A1C score. Learn more about knowing your A1C on LevemirCare™.