40
It is important to frequently track the blood glucose levels of people with
diabetes. The treating physician at your institution should help to determine
the normal glucose levels and target ranges for each patient. The treating
physician should also help to determine when and how often to test each
patient’s blood glucose.
Some suggested times are:
• When waking up (fasting level)
• Before dinner
• Before breakfast
• 1-2 hours after dinner
• 1-2 hours after breakfast
• Before bedtime
• Before lunch
• After a snack
• 1-2 hours after lunch
• At 2 or 3 AM, if taking insulin
• Before or after exercise
Your patients need to be tested more often whenever
1
:
• You add or adjust the patient’s diabetes medication.
• You think the patient’s blood glucose levels may be too low or too high.
• The patient is ill, or feeling uncomfortable over long periods of time.
Expected blood glucose levels for people without diabetes
2
:
Suggested Testing Times and Target Goals
Time of Day
Patient’s Target Range
Waking up (Fasting level)
Before meals
2 hours after meals
Bedtime
2 AM to 3 AM
Other
1. Jennifer Mayfield and Stephen Havas, “Self-Control: A Physician’s Guide to Blood Glucose Monitoring
in the Management of Diabetes – An American Family Physician Monograph”
2. ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, 2015. Diabetes Care, 2015, Vol.38, Supplement 1
(Note: 1 mmol/L = 18 mg/dL)
Talk to the treating physician to set your patients’ daily target ranges.
Time
Range, mg/dL
Range, mmol/L
Fasting and Before Meals
70-100
3.9-5.6
2 Hours after Meals
Less than 140
Less than 7.8
