Check your blood sugar level as often as instructed by your health care provider. Write down the results. This will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes.

Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar every day. And some people need to check it many times a day.

Usual times to test your blood sugar are before meals, after meals, and at bedtime. Ask your doctor how often you should check your blood sugar.

Other times to check your blood sugar may be:

• After you eat out, especially if you have eaten foods you do not normally eat
• If you feel sick
• Before or after you exercise
• If you have been under a lot of stress
• If you eat too much or skip meals or snacks
• If you are taking new medicines, took too much insulin or diabetes medicine by mistake, or took your medicine at the wrong time
• If your blood sugar has been higher or lower than normal
• If you are drinking alcohol

Have all test items within reach before starting. Timing is important. Clean the needle prick area with soap and water or alcohol. Completely dry the skin before pricking.

Most glucose meters have test strips, small needles (lancets) that fit into a spring-loaded plastic device, and a logbook for recording your numbers. There are many kinds of meters. But they all work the same way.

You can buy a testing kit from a pharmacy without a prescription. Your doctor or nurse can help you choose the right one for you. They can also help you set it up and teach you how to use it.

To do the test, prick your finger with the needle and place a drop of blood on a special strip. This strip measures how much glucose is in your blood. Some monitors use blood from areas of the body other than the fingers, reducing discomfort. The meter shows your blood sugar results as a number on a digital display. If your vision is poor, talking glucose meters are available so that you do not have to read the the numbers.

Keep a record for yourself and your health care provider. This will be a big help if you are having problems controlling your diabetes. It will also tell you what you did when you were able to control your diabetes. To get the most help with controlling your blood sugar, write down:

• The time of day
• Your blood sugar level
• The amount of carbohydrates you ate
• The type and dose of your diabetes medicine
• The type of any exercise you do and how long you exercise for
• Anything unusual, such as stress, eating different foods, or being sick

Blood sugar meters can store hundreds of readings. Most types of meters can save readings to your computer or smart phone. This makes it easy to look back at your record and see where you may have had problems.

You and your doctor should set a target goal for your blood sugar level for different times of the day. If your blood sugar is higher than your goals for 3 straight days and you do not know why, call your doctor or nurse.

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes -- 2013. Diabetes Care. 2013;33 Suppl 1:S11-S66.