How often should I monitor my blood sugar?

Diabetes varies by person and type, so monitoring blood sugar is not a one-size-fits-all issue. In this video, HealthMaker John Merendino, MD, an endocrinologist, discusses options for checking blood sugar levels based on individual circumstance.

Transcript

00:00

There are steadily improving, continuous glucose monitors that they can wear that will measure the glucose

00:07

level in the tissues in the fat cells or between the fat cells under the skin. And they can actually get a glucose

00:13

reading every five minutes, which may be extremely helpful. [MUSIC PLAYING]

00:24

It depends on your circumstances. If you have type 1 diabetes and you need multiple insulin injections daily or you're on an insulin pump,

00:32

probably three to six times a day or more may be necessary. For people who have to do that, there are steadily improving,

00:41

continuous glucose monitors that they can wear that will measure the glucose level in the tissues in the fat cells

00:48

or between the fat cells under the skin. And they can actually get a glucose reading every five minutes, which may be extremely helpful.

00:57

For the average person with type 2 diabetes who's on oral medications alone or may take one shot of insulin

01:05

a day, in most instances, once or twice a day is all that's necessary. But if the diabetes is not controlled,

01:12

then you'll have to increase the frequency until you figure out what's wrong. If things are going really well, then you

01:19

may even be able to do it less than once a day and just do it periodically to make sure that things aren't getting out of control without your knowledge.