Diabetes blood sugar levels

Checking your blood sugar gives you a snapshot of your levels at a particular moment. Recording these measurements will show you your progress over time.

Accurately recording your blood sugar and what you eat, when you exercise, and emotional factors like stress, will identify the causes of unusual peaks and dips¹. This will help you to improve your diabetes management and avoid long-term health complications^5,7. 

There are many tools available to help you record your measurements, including diaries and smartphone apps. Read this article to learn how technology and digital health can improve diabetes management. And talk to your healthcare professional about the right option for you.

• Set a routine:  Testing and recording regularly could help you remember to do it and make it easier to keep a record of your levels. Speak to your healthcare professional about what works for you.
• Record immediately:  Don't put it off thinking you will remember the results later – you probably won't!
• Be honest:  Record everything your healthcare professional tells you to: snacks, beverages, carbohydrate content and the exercise you do. An accurate picture of your progress will help you avoid health complications^7,8.
• Stay vigilant:  Learn to spot trends, such as high blood sugar after high carbohydrate meals or reduced levels after physical activity.
• Keep learning:  A blood sugar reading on its own is not a sign of success or failure – it's an opportunity to learn about the factors that impact your blood sugar control and how you can manage them better in the future.

The average blood sugar ranges for people with and without type 2 diabetes can be seen below⁴. Learn about target blood sugar ranges to help you improve your diabetes management.