One of frequently asked questions about blood sugar testing is how and when to test blood sugar after eating! Well, you should clearly know that the food that you eat before and after your test can influence the test result. -- You may also like to know the correlation between overweight and diabetes!
Most of food you eat will be digested by your digestive system and then can contribute to the level of blood glucose in about 1-2 hours after your meal.
Most of food you eat will be digested by your digestive system and then can contribute to the level of blood glucose in about 1-2 hours after your meal.
When to test blood sugar after a meal?
Blood glucose testing is also recommended at bedtime and before meals. For the best answer and more detailed information, see your doctor or talk with your diabetes educator if necessary! Your doctor usually will give the right information about how often and when you should do the test. Read also another post about type 2 diabetes symptoms and diet!
Like mentioned before, most of food you eat will be digested by your digestive system and then can contribute to the level of blood glucose in about 1-2 hours. Other conditions that also may effect to your blood sugar level are changes in medication or illness (especially chronic or acute illness).
As well we know, you might want your test result can capture and give the real statistics of your blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is recommended to do your test about 1-2 hours after eating, or avoid eating anything for at least 2 hours or more before doing to test your blood sugar level.
Furthermore, the accurate reading of test result may also be influenced by other factors, particularly such as; vitamin C, humidity, gout, altitude, the air temperature (especially high air temperature), and anemia. If you find consistently abnormal test results, first make sure that your meter work properly (try to recalibrate it if necessary), or contact your doctor immediately if you believe that your test result is accurate!
How to test blood sugar (basic steps)?
Your doctor should give adequate information and clearly steps on how to test properly your blood sugar level. Two basic components you need are special blood testing strips (usually come in a bottle) and a proper small needle (or usually familiar called or known as ‘a lancet’).
The following are some helpful basic steps for your test (these steps may be slightly different and dependent on the home glucose monitoring tool or device that you have):
- With lancet, prick your finger in order to get a drop of your blood. Not only finger, you can also choose another location or area of your body. Once again, this step may be slightly different (depending on your glucose monitoring tool).
- Then place or direct a drop of your blood on the end of the strip!
- Now look the mater and then put the strip into it! And now you will get a test result that displays a number of the level of your blood glucose.
What else you need to know? Using a lancet to prick your finger usually will hurt a little! And always keep in mind to only once when using the lancet and then throw away safely your used lancet. Be careful when throwing away your used lancets (talk with your nurse or doctor on throwing away safely the used lancet).
And there are some models of meters. Meters, strips, and lancets can be purchased at a formal drug store in your local area. It is better to ask and talk with your doctor first about what is the right kind of home glucose monitoring tool & accessories that you should purchase.
-- Image credit to ‘shutterstock’ for illustration
