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Keeping track of the results of your blood sugars can be challenging. But having good records can help you make better choices about how you manage your diabetes.
Here are some things to keep track of that might be useful:
- Date and day of the week
- Time and result of each blood sugar check
- Time that you took insulin or diabetes pills
- Type and dose of insulin or diabetes pills
- Other things that affect your blood sugar, such as being active, eating, or being sick or stressed
Even though blood sugar results might not always be what you want or expect, all results are helpful. From them you can learn more about how to manage your diabetes. When you understand what causes numbers above and below your target range, it can help you get back on track and ask for help from your doctor when needed.
Take your blood sugar results and/or your blood sugar meter with you when you visit your doctor and other members of your care team. The information can highlight any problems you might be having with your diabetes care plan. Your doctor and members of your care team can show you how to adjust your food, physical activity, and medicine. This will give you the skills to correct any problems you're having and keep blood sugar levels in a safe range.
Results above target
If your blood sugar is higher than you expect, there are several possible reasons:
- You weren't as active as you usually are.
- You might need more or a different type of diabetes medicine added to your care plan.
- You might need to start taking insulin before meals or increase the amount you take to better help you use your food for energy
- You might have taken a medication that elevated your sugars (for example, steroids)
Results below target
If your blood sugar is often too low, talk to your doctor. Your doctor might recommend adjusting your diabetes medicine or making changes to your meal plan so you can keep your levels in a safe range.
- If your fasting blood sugar is frequently too low, it might mean that you're taking too much long-acting insulin before bed.
- If you have frequent low blood sugar in between meals, you might be taking too much long-acting insulin in the morning or too much insulin with meals.
- If your blood sugar is always low after physical activity, eating a carbohydrate snack before you start to exercise might help.
Results in target
Write down your results even when they're in the desired range. When your blood sugar is in target, think about what you did to help get it there. But don't be surprised or disappointed if you do the same things tomorrow and get different results. Blood sugar levels can go up and down without an obvious reason. Set realistic goals so you won't get frustrated or disappointed.