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Diabetes Q&A | Blood Glucose Monitoring | I am a shiftworker 12hr shifts. 6am-6pm
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04/12/09 08:29 PM

"I am a shiftworker 12hr shifts. 6am-6pm or 6pm-6am. When is a good time to check my blood sugar?"
Asked By: tonyglife  
Category: Blood Glucose Monitoring

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Expert Answers (1)

10/11/09 09:37 PM

If you think of blood sugar as constantly changing and fluctuating all day, then blood sugar testing is like taking a “snapshot” of your blood sugar at that particular time of day. So ideally, you will take your “snapshots” at different times to have a complete picture. Sometimes test at breakfast, sometimes test at lunch and then other times test at dinner. Some days it may be easier to test during one meal because of the hours you are working. You can vary your schedule to fit your needs as long as you see the complete picture over time. A good idea is to test your blood sugar before and then 2 hours after a meal. For example, if you eat breakfast at 6 am, then test your blood sugar before you eat and then at 8 am. The number of meals you test per week will vary on your insurance and how many test strips you receive. If you only receive 30 strips per month, then you can test before and after one meal, every other day. Or you can test before and after one meal for a few days in a row during the same week each month. If your blood sugars are too high, then you are going to want to test more often. If all of your blood sugars are in an acceptable range, then you can test less frequently. Testing your blood sugar is your tool to help you understand and manage your diabetes. Use this tool to help you and make it work for you and with your schedule.
Answered By: Deborah Greenwood
Accreditations: MEd, CNS, BC-ADM, CDE
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