How to Check Blood Sugar

How to Check Your Blood Sugar

So, you just found out that you have diabetes. Now you have to do that pesky little thing called checking your blood sugar multiple times each day. Don’t panic! Once you get the hang of it, this vital part of managing your life as a person with diabetes will become second nature. Here are a few helpful steps to start you on your way

You will need a glucometer, glucometer strip, and a one time use needle. These items can be purchased at your local drugstore or Walmart. Be sure that the strips match your glucometer!

Insert the strip into the glucometer with the chip facing up. Once it’s in securely it should beep, this indicates that it is turned on and ready to go. Twist off the one-time use needle cap (be sure to wash your hands or clean them with an alcohol prep pad) and prick the tip of your finger. A small drop of blood will well up; you may have to squeeze your finger a little bit to get enough. Tap the strip against the blood; it will beep, and in just a few seconds you will have your blood sugar reading. This process is so quick and super simple. You will be a pro in no time!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you check your blood sugar

  • The optimal time to check your blood sugar is 1 ½ to 2 hours after eating.
  • Set an alarm to remind you to take your blood sugar reading
  • Keep track of your blood sugar numbers. (Use a journal or a handy smartphone app)
  • Be sure to drink lots of water!
  • Eat a whole food, plant-based diet.
  • Avoid processed foods as much as possible
  • Remember, one serving of meat is only 3oz, which is about the size of  a deck of cards.
  • Get plenty of sleep
  • Exercise daily, even a brisk twenty-minute walk has tremendous impact on blood sugar and overall health
  • Manage stress

-Be Well 

Blood Sugar Tracking Apps

Top 5 Blood Sugar Tracking Apps

Almost 10 percent of the population suffers from diabetes. You are not alone! There are millions of Americans around the country who feel the same as you on a day to day basis. Other people like you who know how hard it is to monitor your blood glucose levels regularly and manage your turbulent blood sugar. To this end, we’ve gathered together some of the best smartphone apps for you to help make your life just a little bit easier.

mySugr Diabetes Logbook

This brightly colored, user-friendly app will make keeping track of how you’re feeling easier than ever. You can even generate monthly reports to share with your doctor. All the information about your health in one place, from what you’re eating to your state of mind.

Glucose Buddy

Everyone who has lived with diabetes understands the struggle of remembering to check your blood sugar. Glucose Buddy will be your best friend as you set alerts to remind you to monitor your sugar throughout the day! Plus, this app’s easy to use design does the remembering for you. Documenting your sugar checking and other powerful recording features. See your blood sugar trends over time and make meaningful connections with other diabetics through the apps forum.

Diabetes Tracker

If you only want to have one app to do all your tracking for you, choose this one! Don’t be fooled by its minimalist design; this great assistant has a multitude of amazing features and charting capabilities. If it can be tracked, measured or graphed, Diabetes Tracker will record it for you. It helps log your exercise, weight trends, blood pressure, blood sugar levels and so much more! It is by far the most comprehensive app on the market. You won’t know what to do without it!

Diabetes Pilot Pro

Even if you know little to nothing about smartphones or this whole “app thing” you can pick up this app and instantly know which buttons to press and how to navigate. Diabetes Pilot Pro pretty much does it all. It’s easy to email your reports directly from the app. Bonus feature, it even estimates your next HbA1C so you can better plan for your next appointment.

Diabetes in Check

The best thing about this app is that you can scan barcodes on packaged food and instantly get all the nutrition information you’ll ever need! The easy to use interface will save you time and energy figuring out how to work it. Diabetes in Check has quite a few intuitive features that you are sure to find helpful. Including a food guide, personalized meal planner, recipes suited for diabetics and a daily journal.