The best times to test blood sugar depend on the type of diabetes and treatment, but generally include:
- For people with insulin-treated diabetes (type 1 or type 2): before meals and snacks, after meals, before and after exercise, before bed, sometimes during the night, after treating low blood sugar, when sick, or when changing routine or medications.
- For type 2 diabetes patients not on insulin, testing may be less frequent or not daily, often before breakfast or dinner.
- Common optimal times to check include: when waking up (fasting), before meals, 2 hours after meals, and at bedtime.
- Additional times to test include when experiencing symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia, after unusual food intake, when sick, before and after exercise, under stress, or when doses of medication change.
Individual testing schedules are best tailored by healthcare providers based on these factors.
