What Should My Blood Sugar Be?

You and your doctor will decide what your target blood sugar levels should be.

Keeping your blood sugar controlled most of the time is an important part of managing your type 2 diabetes.

The self-monitoring of blood sugar levels should be tested with a blood glucose meter.

Blood sugar levels may rise and fall all day long, every day, for everyone. Your checks give you a snapshot of your blood sugar at that moment.Ask your health care team how often to check your blood sugar at home.Ask your health care team about your individual blood sugar goals.

Why should I check my blood sugar?

Monitoring your own blood sugar levels with a meter is a good thing to do. It helps you see how food, physical activity, and medicine affect your blood sugar levels at a given point in time. The readings can help you control your blood sugar day by day or even hour by hour. Keep a record of your test results and review them with your doctor at every visit.

How do I test my own blood sugar?

You use a blood glucose meter. Be sure you know how to test your blood sugar levels the right way.

How often should I check my blood sugar levels?

Ask your doctor when and how often you need to check your blood sugar.

If I test my own blood sugar levels, do I still need the A1C test?

Yes. The results of both the blood sugar tests that you do yourself and A1C tests help you and your health care team get a complete picture of how well you are controlling your blood sugar levels.
Learn more about the A1C test.

Use this handy tracker to record glucose levels quickly and easily.