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Managing your blood sugar

Description

When you have diabetes, you should have good control of your blood sugar. If your blood sugar is not controlled, serious health problems called complications can happen to your body. Learn how to manage your blood sugar so that you can stay as healthy as possible.

Alternative Names

Hyperglycemia - control; Hypoglycemia - control; Diabetes - blood sugar control; Blood glucose - managing

Take Control of Your Diabetes

Know the basic steps for managing your diabetes. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to many health problems.

Know how to:

  • Recognize and treat low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
  • Recognize and treat high blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
  • Plan healthy meals
  • Monitor your blood sugar (glucose)
  • Take care of yourself when you are sick
  • Find, buy, and store diabetes supplies
  • Get the checkups you need

If you take insulin, you should also know how to:

  • Give yourself insulin
  • Adjust your insulin doses and the foods you eat to manage your blood sugar during exercise and on sick days

You should also live a healthy lifestyle.

  • Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Do muscle strengthening exercises 2 or more days a week.
  • Avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time.
  • Try speed walking, swimming, or dancing. Pick an activity you enjoy. Always check with your health care provider before starting any new exercise plans.
  • Follow your meal plan. Every meal is an opportunity to make a good choice for your diabetes management.

Take your medicines the way your provider recommends.

Patient Education Video: Diabetes

Check Your Blood Sugar Often

Checking your blood sugar levels often and writing down, or using an app to track the results will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about how often you should check your blood sugar.

  • Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar every day. But some people may need to check it many times a day.
  • If you have type 1 diabetes, check your blood sugar at least 4 times a day.

Usually, you will test your blood sugar before meals and at bedtime. You may also check your blood sugar:

  • After you eat out, particularly if you have eaten foods you don't normally eat
  • If you feel sick
  • Before and after you exercise
  • If you have a lot of stress
  • If you eat too much
  • If you are taking new medicines that can affect your blood sugar

Keep a record for yourself and your provider. This will be a big help if you are having problems managing your diabetes. It will also tell you what works and what doesn't work, to keep your blood sugar under control. Write down:

  • The time of day
  • Your blood sugar level
  • The amount of carbohydrates or sugar you ate
  • The type and dose of your diabetes medicines or insulin
  • The type of exercise you do and for how long
  • Any unusual events, such as feeling stressed, eating different foods, or being sick

Many glucose meters let you store this information.

You and your provider should set a target goal for your blood sugar levels for different times during the day. If your blood sugar is higher than your goals for 3 days and you don't know why, call your provider.

Random blood sugar values are often not that useful to your provider and this can be frustrating to people with diabetes. Often fewer values with more information (meal description and time, exercise description and time, medicine dose and time) related to the blood sugar value are much more useful to help guide medicine decisions and dose adjustments.

Managing Type 2 Diabetes Quiz

What can diabetes treatment help you do?

Answer:

The correct answer is all of the above. Managing your diabetes involves keeping your blood sugar at your goal level. This will improve your energy and is the best way to prevent strokes, heart attacks, and health problems such as eye, foot, nerve, and kidney damage diabetes can cause.
To manage diabetes, you need to learn how to:

Answer:

The correct answer is all of the above. It may take several months to learn the basic skills. Your doctor or diabetes educator can help. Always keep learning about diabetes, its complications, and how to control and live with the disease. Stay up-to-date on new research and treatments.
You should test your blood sugar:

Answer:

The correct answer is it depends on if your diabetes is controlled. Many people with type 2 diabetes check their blood sugar once or twice a day. If you keep your blood sugar under control, a few times a week may be enough. Ask your doctor what your blood sugar goals should be and how often to test it at home.
Your doctor can give you a blood test to check the overall control of your diabetes.

Answer:

The correct answer is true. For most people, the hemoglobin A1c test shows the average level of blood sugar (glucose) over the previous 3 months. It shows how well you are controlling your diabetes. You and your doctor will discuss the correct range for you. For many people the goal is to keep your level at or below 6.5 - 7%.
Which situation does NOTrequire you to test your blood sugar more often?

Answer:

The correct answer is taking a nap. All the other situations listed above may affect your blood sugar, so it's best to test more often. Keep a record of your blood sugar readings and share it with your doctor. This will be a big help if you are having problems controlling your diabetes.
How many days should you wait before calling your healthcare provider when your blood sugar level is higher than your goal?

Answer:

The correct answer is 3 straight days. Any number of things can affect your blood sugar, and your health care provider can help you identify what may be causing the problem.
Testing your blood sugar helps you:

Answer:

The correct answer is all of the above. By testing your blood sugar, you can see how food, activity, or illness affects it. Then you can adjust the foods you eat or your diabetes medicine as needed to help keep your blood sugar at your goal level. Also ask your health care provider which high or low blood sugar readings mean you should call right away.
What should your LDL, or bad, cholesterol level be if you don't have any heart problems?

Answer:

The correct answer is 100 mg/dL. Managing your cholesterol can help you prevent heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage. Most people with diabetes should keep their LDL below 100 mg/dL. If you already have heart disease, the lower target of 70 mg/dL may be better. Ask your doctor what your LDL target is. Also learn how to shop for and cook foods that are low in fat and healthy for your heart.
Which is a good blood pressure goal for most people with diabetes?

Answer:

The correct answer is lower than 140/80 mm/Hg. If your blood pressure is 140/80 mm/Hg or above, your doctor may want to prescribe medicine to help you lower it. Some people with diabetes may have a lower blood pressure target such as 130/80 mm/Hg. Check with your doctor to see what your blood pressure target is.
Which of the following will NOT help keep your feet healthy:

Answer:

The correct answer is getting a monthly pedicure. Only trained healthcare providers should care for your feet if you have diabetes. Caring for your feet is an important part of managing diabetes. So be sure to tell your doctor if you notice a cut, ingrown toenail, or break in the skin.
If you have diabetes, how often should you see your doctor?

Answer:

The correct answer is every 3 to 6 months. You should also see your dentist every 6 months and your eye doctor once a year. Stay in close contact with your health care providers. That way, any minor health problems get treated quickly before possibly becoming more serious.

Recommended Blood Sugar Targets

For people with type 1 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends that blood sugar targets be based on a person's needs and goals. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about these goals. A general guideline is:

Before meals, your blood sugar should be:

  • From 90 to 130 mg/dL (5.0 to 7.2 mmol/L) for adults
  • From 90 to 130 mg/dL (5.0 to 7.2 mmol/L) for children, 13 to 19 years old
  • From 90 to 180 mg/dL (5.0 to 10.0 mmol/L) for children, 6 to 12 years old
  • From 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.5 to 10.0 mmol/L) for children under 6 years old

After meals (1 to 2 hours after eating), your blood sugar should be:

  • Less than 180 mg/dL (10 mmol/L) for adults

At bedtime, your blood sugar should be:

  • From 90 to 150 mg/dL (5.0 to 8.3 mmol/L) for adults
  • From 90 to 150 mg/dL (5.0 to 8.3 mmol/L) for children, 13 to 19 years old
  • From 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.5 to 10.0 mmol/L) for children, 6 to 12 years old
  • From 110 to 200 mg/dL (6.1 to 11.1 mmol/L) for children under 6 years old

For people with type 2 diabetes, the American Diabetes Association also recommends that blood sugar targets be individualized. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about your goals.

In general, before meals, your blood sugar should be:

  • From 70 to 130 mg/dL (3.9 to 7.2 mmol/L) for adults

After meals (1 to 2 hours after eating), your blood sugar should be:

  • Less than 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) for adults

What to do When Your Blood Sugar is High or Low

High blood sugar can harm you. If your blood sugar is high, you need to know how to bring it down. Here are some questions to ask yourself if your blood sugar is high.

  • Are you eating too much or too little? Have you been following your diabetes meal plan?
  • Are you taking your diabetes medicines correctly?
  • Has your provider (or insurance company) changed your medicines?
  • Is your insulin expired? Check the date on your insulin.
  • Has your insulin been exposed to very high or very low temperatures?
  • If you take insulin, have you been taking the correct dose? Are you changing your syringes or pen needles?
  • Are you afraid of having low blood sugar? Is that causing you to eat too much or take too little insulin or other diabetes medicine?
  • Have you injected insulin into a firm, numb, bumpy, or overused area? Have you been rotating sites?
  • Have you been less or more active than usual?
  • Do you have a cold, flu, or another illness?
  • Have you had more stress than usual?
  • Have you been checking your blood sugar every day?
  • Have you gained or lost weight?

When to Call the Doctor

Call your provider if your blood sugar is too high or too low and you do not understand why. When your blood sugar is in your target range, you will feel better and your health will be better.

Gallery

Insulin pump
The catheter at the end of the insulin pump is inserted through a needle into the abdominal fat of a person with diabetes. Dosage instructions are entered into the pump's small computer and the appropriate amount of insulin is then injected into the body in a calculated, controlled manner.
Blood test
Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe. Preparation may vary depending on the specific test.
Medical alert bracelet
People with diabetes should always wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that emergency medical workers will be able to find. Medical identification products can help ensure proper treatment in an emergency.

References

Atkinson MA, Mcgill DE, Dassau E, Laffel L. Type 1 diabetes. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 36.

American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee; Draznin B, Aroda VR, et al. 6. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2022. Diabetes Care. 2022;45(Suppl 1):S83-S96. PMID: 34964868 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34964868/.

Riddle MC, Ahmann AJ. Therapeutics of type 2 diabetes. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 35.

Last reviewed February 1, 2022 by Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team..