How does a blood glucose meter work?

A blood glucose meter, or “finger prick”, takes a measurement of how much sugar is in your bloodstream at that moment in time. Sugar levels are impacted by the foods we eat (particularly carbohydrates which break down into glucose, or sugar), physical activity, alcohol consumption, illness, and stress.

Why do we check our blood sugar?

Checking your blood sugar at home is a great way to better understand how well your blood sugar is controlled, and if there are any changes to meals or snacks that you should make based on how your blood sugar responds. Typically the recommendation for someone with diabetes is at minimum to check a fasting blood sugar (first thing in the morning before eating or drinking) and a post-prandial blood sugar (1-2 hours after eating).

Your providers are available for questions about the best way to take your blood sugar, how to interpret blood sugar levels, and medications and lifestyle changes that can help to support blood sugar levels.