Tracking your diabetes
Learn to track your blood sugar numbers.
When you have diabetes, it’s important for you to keep track of your blood sugar numbers. That means checking your blood sugar often, especially if you’re just starting insulin. People who are new to insulin may experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia happens when your blood sugar level drops too low and your body responds with symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, or sweating. Talk to your doctor right away if you notice any side effects.
You should check your blood sugar often, especially after a meal or if you feel low blood sugar coming on. Plus, there are 2 important times you should test and write down your blood sugar levels:
- In the morning on an empty stomach—called your fasting plasma (blood) glucose, or FPG level. This test is usually taken in the morning before you eat anything. It works best if you haven’t had anything to eat in at least 8 hours.
- After you eat—called your postprandial plasma (blood) glucose, or PPG level. This test is usually taken 2 hours after you eat. It measures how much your blood sugar level has spiked or risen because of the food you ate.
Another important number to know is your A1C level. Unlike FPG and PPG numbers, which show how your blood sugar levels are doing on a day-to-day basis, your A1C number shows how you’ve done over the past few months. Your doctor can give you an A1C test. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an A1C level of less than 7%. Together with FPG and PPG numbers, A1C numbers can give your doctor a good idea of how your treatment plan is working for you.
You will hear about these tests and numbers often while you treat diabetes. Because everyone is different, your doctor will tell you what your blood sugar levels should be. It’s important to check your blood sugar often, especially after you eat, and keep track of your numbers. This will help you and your doctor figure out trends in your blood sugar levels. An easy way to remember your numbers is to write them down in a diary.
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