Monitoring: When and Why to Test Blood Sugar Levels

Monitoring and recording blood sugar (glucose) levels gives you valuable information for controlling your diabetes. Checking blood sugar regularly and understanding the results will help you and your health care team adjust your treatment plan as needed.

Keeping your blood sugar in the recommended target range can prevent or delay the long-term health problems caused by diabetes. You can best manage your diabetes by keeping track of your blood glucose numbers using a blood glucose meter and with the results of your A1C (pronounced a-one-c) tests — a long-term measure of blood sugar levels in your body.