When exactly should diabetics check their glucose levels? how many times a day?

Question

i'm talking about someone that may be developing diabetes but who doesn't have it yet

Answer 1

If you are not diabetic, then you should check your fasting blood glucose level in the morning when you first wake up and see what your level is. Fasting level should be between 70-110 mg/dl
and then you should do a check 2 hours after you eat a meal and this reading should be under 180mg/dl.
Also, you need to have your doctor to order bloodwork for you to check the HbA1C level, this is a test that will give the doctor a better idea of how your sugar levels have been running over the last 2-3months time. The HbA1C level needs to be 6 or lower, anything over 6, they worry about and start wanting to take control over this problem.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

If you don't actually have diabetes yet, you should check at different times throughout the week. A good place to start is checking your fasting blood sugar first thing in the am when you wake up. Then, 2 hours after meals. See how different foods affect your levels at different times. This should give you a good picture to see if you need further testing at your doctor's office.

People with diabetes are generally advised to test before meals, 2 hours after meals, as well as before bed. Depending on the type of diabetes you have, and other factors, you may need to test more or less than this.

Answer 4

If your friend isn't yet diagnosed, then fasting (before breakfast) and a one hour test after a high carb meal should be sufficient to indicate whether a visit to the doctor is in order.

Fasting should be under 100 (the diagnostic threshold for pre-diabetes) or 126 (diabetes). See the first source url for further diagnostic levels.

Once diagnosed, then I recommend a lot of initial testing to discover what's safe to eat and what's not. See the second source url.

Answer 5

It depends on the diabetic. How fragile they are. My wife takes hers about 5 times a day. In the morning after getting out of bed. (2) hours after every meal. At bed time. Then sometimes if she feels funny she might take it to make sure it isn't to high or to low. You never can be to careful with diabetes. A few extra strips isn't worth a life.