Blood sugar testing - What every diabetic should know – When and How often to test your blood sugar levels at home

The next step is to know when and how often you need to test your blood sugar levels.
This depends on various factors and your doctor is the best person to tell you how often you need to test your sugar levels.
Newly diagnosed diabetics and diabetics who are not under control may have to test
*Fasting for at least 8 hours(Before Breakfast)
*1-2 Hours After Breakfast
*Before Lunch
*1-2 Hours After Lunch
*Before Dinner
*1-2 Hours After Dinner
*Bedtime
*3 A.M. (in some conditions)
I have just mentioned the maximum that a person whom I would treat might have to test in one day. In such cases I usually ask them to get admitted and have a lovely nurse do the testing.
But on average my patients are asked to test three to four times a day till their sugar levels are in control then I ask them to test once a day.
But there are some conditions where you should test more often than normal.
Situations where your doctor might want you to check your blood sugar levels more frequently:
*If your diabetes medicine changes
*If you begin taking other kinds of medicines
*If you change your diet
*If your exercise routine or activity level changes
*If your level of stress increases
*If you are sick. When you are sick, even without eating, your sugar levels may run high, so testing is important.
Continue testing more often until you have maintained your blood sugar levels for at least 1 week, or until your doctor advises you that more frequent testing is no longer necessary.