You can do blood sugar level check by doing a finger-prick test , or by using an electronic blood sugar monitor called a flash glucose monitor or CGM. You can do this several times a day — helping you keep an eye on your levels as you go about your life and help you work out what to eat and how much medication to take.

Find out your ideal target range. Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their levels like this. Everyone with diabetes is entitled to this check. High blood sugar levels increase your risk of developing serious complications. However you manage your diabetes, stay in the know about your blood sugar levels.

If you take certain medication, like insulin or sulphonylureas, checking your blood sugars is a vital part of living with diabetes.

It can help you work out when you need to take more medication, when you need to eat something or for when you want to get up and move around more.

Routine checks can help you know when you might be starting to go too low called a hypo or too high called a hyper. It can help you and your healthcare team spot patterns too.

Do you write your results down? You might find that helpful. But importantly, it will help you stay healthy and prevent serious diabetes complications now and in the future. By complications, we mean serious problems in places like your feet and your eyes.

This happens because too much sugar in the blood damages your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow around your body. This can lead to very serious problems like sight loss and needing an amputation.

Knowing all the facts and speaking to other people can help — contact our helpline or chat to others with diabetes on our online forum.

Watch our video and follow our simple steps on how to test your blood sugars in the right way and safely. New meters come on the market all the time, so it can be tricky choosing the right one.

If you have sight problems, you may not be able to use some meters so your healthcare team can suggest alternatives. Some people can get meters on prescription. But if you choose to buy your own meter, you might not get a prescription for the test strips it uses.

Chat to your healthcare team. If this happens to you, take it up with your GP practice. Finger-prick devices pierce the skin with a needle so that a drop of blood can be taken for testing. The needle is called a lancet. You can adjust the device to change how far it goes into the skin.

Lancets come in different sizes and thicknesses or gauges. A higher-gauge lancet is thinner so is normally less painful, but it might not always give you enough blood.

More and more people with diabetes are choosing to use a flash glucose monitor to check their sugar levels. This is a blood sugar test without a needle.

Instead it uses a sensor you wear on your skin and you an do the test without pricking your finger. The main brand is called the FreeStyle Libre.

It measures the amount of sugar in the fluid surrounding your cells, called interstitial fluid. We've been campaigning to make this life-changing technology more easily available — check out our Fight for Flash campaign.

A doctor will need to carry out two tests to diagnose diabetes unless the person shows clear signs of the condition.

Ideal blood sugar levels vary at different ages. However, they do not differentiate by age. A doctor will advise on levels that are suitable to the individual. Experts note that strict adherence to complex blood sugar targets is not always the best approach, especially for children.

Parents may find that a doctor provides more straightforward guidelines for children than adults if the benefits outweigh the risks. The following are average guideline levels for teens, but people should ask a doctor for individual recommendations.

Gestational diabetes can occur during pregnancy. Often, it is a temporary condition, but it can lead to pregnancy complications. The American Diabetes Association ADA recommends that people with a diagnosis of gestational diabetes aim for blood sugar levels similar to those for people without diabetes, although individual targets may vary.

A doctor will advise the individual on what to do if blood sugar levels are not within the target range. Target levels vary throughout the day.

They tend to be lower before eating and after exercise and higher an hour or so after meals. Blood sugar charts often show recommended levels as a range, allowing for differences between individuals.

Why is diabetes more common in Black Americans? Find out here. A person with very low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia , may notice the following symptoms:.

If levels remain low, the person should seek medical advice. If the individual loses consciousness, someone should seek emergency medical help. High blood sugar is called hyperglycemia and may lead to:.

Exercising may help. If high levels persist, the person should speak to a doctor as they may need to adjust their treatment plan. A person should also contact a doctor if high or low blood sugar symptoms are severe, as they may need emergency medical attention.

What is a diabetic emergency, and what action should a person take? Monitoring blood sugar levels is an important part of diabetes management. A monitoring plan may include:. Typical times a person will check their levels include:. The frequency of testing will vary according to the type and stage of diabetes and individual factors.

A doctor will advise the person on how often to test and when. Usually, the body can manage excess blood sugar either by eliminating it or converting it into fat cells. If high blood sugar levels persist, however, problems can arise.

In time, persistent high blood sugar may result in damage to the:. A wide range of complications can also result, such as slow wound healing and frequent infections.

Other possible complications include:. If the body cannot use glucose for energy, it starts to break down fat instead.

In doing so, it releases substances called ketones. At high levels, ketones are toxic. If high levels of ketones build up in the blood, DKA can occur. Symptoms include :. DKA is a life threatening emergency, and a person will need immediate medical attention.

Research suggests it is the most common complication of type 1 diabetes. Why does my breath smell like acetone? Find out more about DKA. HHS is a potentially life threatening condition that involves high blood sugar and dehydration. For a person without diabetes, a healthy A1C level is below 5.

This changes to 6. Managing blood sugar levels is an important step in preventing the complications of diabetes. If blood sugar levels stay within a moderate range, this can indicate that treatment is working.

Individual needs can differ, and a doctor will set goals at the start of treatment. They may adjust these targets as treatment progresses. Read this article in Spanish. In this article, we look at nine ways to lower high insulin levels.

This happens because too much sugar in the blood damages your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow around your body. This can lead to very serious problems like sight loss and needing an amputation.

Knowing all the facts and speaking to other people can help — contact our helpline or chat to others with diabetes on our online forum. Watch our video and follow our simple steps on how to test your blood sugars in the right way and safely. New meters come on the market all the time, so it can be tricky choosing the right one.

If you have sight problems, you may not be able to use some meters so your healthcare team can suggest alternatives. Some people can get meters on prescription. But if you choose to buy your own meter, you might not get a prescription for the test strips it uses.

Chat to your healthcare team. If this happens to you, take it up with your GP practice. Finger-prick devices pierce the skin with a needle so that a drop of blood can be taken for testing.

The needle is called a lancet. You can adjust the device to change how far it goes into the skin. Lancets come in different sizes and thicknesses or gauges. A higher-gauge lancet is thinner so is normally less painful, but it might not always give you enough blood. More and more people with diabetes are choosing to use a flash glucose monitor to check their sugar levels.

This is a blood sugar test without a needle. Instead it uses a sensor you wear on your skin and you an do the test without pricking your finger. The main brand is called the FreeStyle Libre. It measures the amount of sugar in the fluid surrounding your cells, called interstitial fluid.

We've been campaigning to make this life-changing technology more easily available — check out our Fight for Flash campaign. As well as regularly testing your own blood sugars, at least once a year your healthcare team will ask you to come in for an HbA1c blood test. This checks your average blood sugar levels over the last three months and helps your diabetes team and you spot trends over time.

A high HbA1c means you have too much sugar in your blood. Many authorities — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and World Health Organization WHO — explain glucose levels and what people with diabetes should work toward achieving, at a high level.

The standards from the American Diabetes Association ADA are a set of guidelines followed by many professionals in the diabetes field. This chart details goals for specific groups of people with diabetes. Importantly, the ADA changed its glucose level guidance in to reflect a change in thinking about overtreating and hypoglycemia concerns.

Still, a study at the time determined that adults, children, and those who are older might be more prone to overtreating — especially if they use varying doses of insulin or glucose-lowering medications.

As with all aspects of diabetes management, these guidelines are used as a starting point by the medical community. Make sure to consult with your doctor and diabetes care team to determine what may be best for you. In type 2 diabetes T2D , the body may not make or use insulin correctly anymore.

For either T1D or T2D, ensuring glucose levels stay as level as possible is the goal. Sometimes insulin or diabetes medications are used based on the type of diabetes and personal needs.

Many factors affect glucose levels, including food, exercise, insulin, medications, stress, etc. However, this terminology is flawed because even people without diabetes do see blood sugar spikes, especially after eating and when consuming something with high amounts of sugar, or a complex carbohydrate like pizza or pasta.

Here are some suggestions on language choices when talking with someone about their blood sugars and glucose levels. Often, children and adults with diabetes can feel disappointed, frustrated, and angry about their blood sugars and diabetes management overall.

As a result, that can lead to diabetes burnout for the child or adult and cause them to lose interest in managing their diabetes as needed. A1C measures your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.

Some doctors can also perform a fingerstick blood test to check your A1C level. When sugar enters your bloodstream, it binds to a protein called hemoglobin.

People with high blood sugar have a higher percentage of the hemoglobin protein coated with sugar. Your A1C result will give you an indication of what percentage of your hemoglobin is bound to sugar. Generally, clinicians advise for an A1C of being safely 7.

The A1C is not the same as your blood sugar average, which might be displayed on a fingerstick meter or your continuous glucose monitor CGM. Instead, they use that A1C in addition to time in range TIR figures, showing how often your glucose levels are in your individualized target range.

This device monitors glucose levels under the skin, providing real-time results every 1 to 5 minutes. You insert a CGM on your body and wear it for 7 to 14 days, with the diabetes data being streamed to a separate handheld receiver or your smartphone app. Importantly, you can see in real-time the effects of food and exercise on your glucose levels, and catch cases of hyperglycemia too high and hypoglycemia too low as they happen, avoiding the potentially dangerous consequences.

Research has shown, time and time again, the benefits of CGM in helping people improve their diabetes outcomes. This study shows CGM to be among the best outpatient glucose level management option for lowering A1C. It's also called a glycated hemoglobin test. The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you'll have with sugar attached.

An A1C level of 6. An A1C between 5. Below 5. Glucose tolerance test. For this test, you fast overnight. Then, the fasting blood sugar level is measured. Then you drink a sugary liquid, and blood sugar levels are tested regularly for the next two hours.

If your provider thinks you may have type 1 diabetes, they may test your urine to look for the presence of ketones. Ketones are a byproduct produced when muscle and fat are used for energy.

Your provider will also probably run a test to see if you have the destructive immune system cells associated with type 1 diabetes called autoantibodies. Your provider will likely see if you're at high risk for gestational diabetes early in your pregnancy.

If you're at high risk, your provider may test for diabetes at your first prenatal visit. If you're at average risk, you'll probably be screened sometime during your second trimester. Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your diabetes-related health concerns Start Here.

Depending on what type of diabetes you have, blood sugar monitoring, insulin and oral drugs may be part of your treatment. Eating a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity also are important parts of managing diabetes.

An important part of managing diabetes — as well as your overall health — is keeping a healthy weight through a healthy diet and exercise plan:. Healthy eating. Your diabetes diet is simply a healthy-eating plan that will help you control your blood sugar.

You'll need to focus your diet on more fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. These are foods that are high in nutrition and fiber and low in fat and calories. You'll also cut down on saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and sweets.

In fact, it's the best eating plan for the entire family. Sugary foods are OK once in a while. They must be counted as part of your meal plan. Understanding what and how much to eat can be a challenge. A registered dietitian can help you create a meal plan that fits your health goals, food preferences and lifestyle.

This will likely include carbohydrate counting, especially if you have type 1 diabetes or use insulin as part of your treatment. Physical activity. Everyone needs regular aerobic activity. This includes people who have diabetes.

Physical activity lowers your blood sugar level by moving sugar into your cells, where it's used for energy. Physical activity also makes your body more sensitive to insulin.

That means your body needs less insulin to transport sugar to your cells. Get your provider's OK to exercise. Then choose activities you enjoy, such as walking, swimming or biking. What's most important is making physical activity part of your daily routine.

Aim for at least 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity most days of the week, or at least minutes of moderate physical activity a week. Bouts of activity can be a few minutes during the day.

If you haven't been active for a while, start slowly and build up slowly. Also avoid sitting for too long. Try to get up and move if you've been sitting for more than 30 minutes.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes involves insulin injections or the use of an insulin pump, frequent blood sugar checks, and carbohydrate counting. For some people with type 1 diabetes, pancreas transplant or islet cell transplant may be an option. Treatment of type 2 diabetes mostly involves lifestyle changes, monitoring of your blood sugar, along with oral diabetes drugs, insulin or both.

Depending on your treatment plan, you may check and record your blood sugar as many as four times a day or more often if you're taking insulin.

Careful blood sugar testing is the only way to make sure that your blood sugar level remains within your target range.

People with type 2 diabetes who aren't taking insulin generally check their blood sugar much less often. People who receive insulin therapy also may choose to monitor their blood sugar levels with a continuous glucose monitor.

Although this technology hasn't yet completely replaced the glucose meter , it can lower the number of fingersticks necessary to check blood sugar and provide important information about trends in blood sugar levels. Even with careful management, blood sugar levels can sometimes change unpredictably.

With help from your diabetes treatment team, you'll learn how your blood sugar level changes in response to food, physical activity, medications, illness, alcohol and stress.

For women, you'll learn how your blood sugar level changes in response to changes in hormone levels. Besides daily blood sugar monitoring, your provider will likely recommend regular A1C testing to measure your average blood sugar level for the past 2 to 3 months.

Compared with repeated daily blood sugar tests, A1C testing shows better how well your diabetes treatment plan is working overall. A higher A1C level may signal the need for a change in your oral drugs, insulin regimen or meal plan.

Your target A1C goal may vary depending on your age and various other factors, such as other medical conditions you may have or your ability to feel when your blood sugar is low. Ask your provider what your A1C target is.

People with type 1 diabetes must use insulin to manage blood sugar to survive. Many people with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes also need insulin therapy. Many types of insulin are available, including short-acting regular insulin , rapid-acting insulin, long-acting insulin and intermediate options.

Depending on your needs, your provider may prescribe a mixture of insulin types to use during the day and night. Insulin can't be taken orally to lower blood sugar because stomach enzymes interfere with insulin's action. Insulin is often injected using a fine needle and syringe or an insulin pen — a device that looks like a large ink pen.

An insulin pump also may be an option. The pump is a device about the size of a small cellphone worn on the outside of your body. A tube connects the reservoir of insulin to a tube catheter that's inserted under the skin of your abdomen.

A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures your blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin. An insulin pump, attached to the pocket, is a device that's worn outside of the body with a tube that connects the reservoir of insulin to a catheter inserted under the skin of the abdomen.

Insulin pumps are programmed to deliver specific amounts of insulin automatically and when you eat. A continuous glucose monitor, on the left, is a device that measures blood sugar every few minutes using a sensor inserted under the skin.

Insulin pumps are programmed to deliver specific amounts of insulin continuously and with food. A tubeless pump that works wirelessly is also now available. You program an insulin pump to dispense specific amounts of insulin.

It can be adjusted to give out more or less insulin depending on meals, activity level and blood sugar level. A closed loop system is a device implanted in the body that links a continuous glucose monitor to an insulin pump.

The monitor checks blood sugar levels regularly. The device automatically delivers the right amount of insulin when the monitor shows that it's needed. The Food and Drug Administration has approved several hybrid closed loop systems for type 1 diabetes. They are called "hybrid" because these systems require some input from the user.

For example, you may have to tell the device how many carbohydrates are eaten, or confirm blood sugar levels from time to time. A closed loop system that doesn't need any user input isn't available yet.

But more of these systems currently are in clinical trials. Sometimes your provider may prescribe other oral or injected drugs as well. Some diabetes drugs help your pancreas to release more insulin. Others prevent the production and release of glucose from your liver, which means you need less insulin to move sugar into your cells.

Still others block the action of stomach or intestinal enzymes that break down carbohydrates, slowing their absorption, or make your tissues more sensitive to insulin.

Metformin Glumetza, Fortamet, others is generally the first drug prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Another class of medication called SGLT2 inhibitors may be used. They work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing filtered sugar into the blood.

Instead, the sugar is eliminated in the urine. In some people who have type 1 diabetes, a pancreas transplant may be an option. Islet transplants are being studied as well.

With a successful pancreas transplant, you would no longer need insulin therapy. But transplants aren't always successful. And these procedures pose serious risks. You need a lifetime of immune-suppressing drugs to prevent organ rejection. These drugs can have serious side effects.

Because of this, transplants are usually reserved for people whose diabetes can't be controlled or those who also need a kidney transplant. Some people with type 2 diabetes who are obese and have a body mass index higher than 35 may be helped by some types of bariatric surgery.

People who've had gastric bypass have seen major improvements in their blood sugar levels. But this procedure's long-term risks and benefits for type 2 diabetes aren't yet known. Controlling your blood sugar level is essential to keeping your baby healthy. It can also keep you from having complications during delivery.

In addition to having a healthy diet and exercising regularly, your treatment plan for gestational diabetes may include monitoring your blood sugar. In some cases, you may also use insulin or oral drugs. Your provider will monitor your blood sugar level during labor.

If your blood sugar rises, your baby may release high levels of insulin.