When is the best time to check your blood sugar?

Monitoring blood sugar level is crucial for managing diabetes and maintaining overall health. Do you know when to check your blood sugar level? Checking blood sugar at different time of day can help you make informed decisions about your diet, exercise, and medication. What is the difference between taking on an empty stomach and after meal?

Fasting Blood Glucose (Empty Stomach)

Checking your blood sugar first thing in the morning or before eating or drinking is known as a fasting blood glucose test. This measurement provides a baseline level of your blood sugar and helps assess how well your body manages sugar overnight. 

This baseline measurement gives you a starting point to compare and is less likely be affected by what you eat and drink. Moreover, professionals always refer to this number to assess medication effectiveness to ensure the medication is working as expected.

As a general guideline, a normal fasting blood glucose level should be <5.6mmol/L, and individuals should start actively monitoring between 5.6 and 7mmol/L. If your blood glucose is above 7mmol/L, you should seek medical advice for medication support.

Postprandial Blood Glucose (After Meal) 

Postprandial blood glucose testing involves checking your blood sugar levels 2 hours after eating. This helps you understand how your body responds to different foods and meals. Moreover, if postprandial blood glucose stays high after 2 hours, the test result is suggesting there might be some malfunctioning in sugar regulation and attention is needed. 

Some individuals also use this result to make dietary adjustments to better manage blood sugar. Some even uses it to identify foods that cause spikes in blood sugar so you can avoid them.

The target for postprandial blood glucose is less than 7.8mmol/L. If your results are between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/L, you should actively monitor your blood sugar level. If the blood glucose is above 11.1mmol/L, you should seek medical advice and medication support. 

Other time of the day

Depending on your case, your professional may suggest some other times to check blood glucose level. This may include before and after exercise, before bed or other less common time of day.

Regular blood sugar monitoring is a vital part of diabetes management. Doing it right can allow you to gain valuable insights into how your body handles sugar. Pricking your fingers all the time often discourages individuals to use it, let alone undiagnosed individuals who wants to check blood sugar all the time. Saliva glucose tracker is a new technology that allows you to easily and conveniently test for sugar level anytime anywhere. Try our painless and no blood modern solution for you!