Back to Basics: What is blood glucose monitoring?

Blood glucose targets

For most adults with diabetes, the recommended fasting blood glucose level is between 4-7mmol/L and between 5-10mmol/L two hours after meals.

However, individual targets may vary based on your age, the length of time you have had diabetes, your diabetes treatment, lifestyle factors and other medical conditions you may have.

It is best to speak with your diabetes care team to determine your personal BGLs target ranges.

These targets help you to know when to treat anything urgent such as a low glucose level (hypo) and can also help to reduce the risk for long-term complications.

How often to check blood glucose levels

How often a person needs to check their blood glucose levels depends on many factors, including type of diabetes and current diabetes treatments. Some people may only need to check once a week or every few days.

Others may be asked to check once a day or multiple times a day. Everyone is different. Some people like to check regularly while other people may find checking difficult. Always discuss how you feel about checking your BGLs when speaking with your diabetes team.

When to check blood glucose levels

Blood glucose levels vary throughout the day. This is normal for everyone including people without diabetes. Even if blood glucose levels are checked at the same time each day – levels will vary. Some typical times of the day when blood glucose levels are checked include:

• Before meals
• Two hours after meals
• Before and after exercise
• Bedtime

Sometimes additional checks may be needed, for example during the night. Monitoring before and after a meal helps to understand the effect the meal had on BGLs and may help with food selection and portion size. Monitoring before and after exercise helps understand how physical activity affects glucose levels. During periods of illness, stress, or changes in routine, more frequent testing is recommended. Always follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations, as they can tailor testing schedules to meet individual needs.

It is important to keep a record of BGL checks: time, level and any other special notes such as medications, physical activity or illness. This helps to see patterns which can help you and your diabetes team identify any possible changes needed with medication, food selection, portion sizes or altered routines around physical activity.

An alternative to blood glucose monitoring using a meter is continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). This system uses a small sensor device that sits on the surface of the skin which is attached to a canula under the skin. Sensors are changed every 10 -14 days and can be great as they require fewer finger pricks. Currently only people living with type 1 diabetes have subsidised access to these devices and they are expensive without the subsidy.

In summary, blood glucose monitoring can be very useful in helping to manage diabetes. Research shows that self-checking improves a person’s diabetes management, their general well-being and quality of life. It is important to talk to your diabetes team about how often and when you should check your BGLs and what your blood glucose targets are.

For further information you can visit the NDSS Website or call the NDSS Helpline.

Consult a health care professional before making changes to your diabetes management.

If you would like an individual appointment with a credentialed diabetes educator, dietitian, exercise physiologist or psychology, you can book directly into our Diabetes Victoria Clinic here.

For more information on upgrading your blood glucose devices, see our partner offers.