If you have diabetes, checking your blood sugar is an important tool in managing your treatment plan and preventing diabetes complications.
The number of times you check throughout the day will depend on the type of diabetes you have, how long you've been diagnosed and how well your diabetes is managed. However, it is often recommended to check a fasting blood sugar level. Fasting means checking first thing in the morning, before eating, drinking or taking diabetes medications.
The Importance of Checking in The Morning
There are many benefits of checking your blood sugar first thing in the morning. Here are a few:
- Checking your blood sugar in the morning helps you and your doctor see if your diabetes management plan is working. Aim for a range between 4.0-7.0 mmol/L
- Checking your blood sugar in the morning gives you a starting point for the day and helps to determine what is going on while you are sleeping.
- Checking your blood sugar in the morning allows you to see if you are too high, too low, or in range. Knowing this information gives you the opportunity to make changes early so managing it throughout the day is easier.
- Checking your blood sugar in the morning can tell you if you are on track with your previous night's dinner.
- If you are taking medications for diabetes, checking blood sugar in the morning shows you if your evening medications are working.
Self-monitoring is an important part of diabetes management because it puts you in charge. Regardless of how you manage your diabetes — through diet and exercise alone or combined with oral or injectable medicines or insulin — regular blood sugar monitoring provides immediate feedback on how your program is working.