Monitoring Diabetes
Should I be testing?
Not everyone with diabetes needs to monitor their blood glucose (sugar) levels at home, but it is usually recommended for those using insulin, other injectable drugs or any medication that can cause hypos. Monitoring your blood glucose levels keeps your diabetes on track and reduces the risk of developing complications. Testing gives you a better understanding of how different foods and activities impact on your blood glucose levels.
Glucose monitoring
You can monitor your blood glucose levels through a finger-prick test or by using continuous glucose (CGM) or flash glucose monitor.
A flash glucose monitor is a sensor usually worn on the arm, that records your glucose levels roughly every 5 minutes. You can scan the sensor with a reader whenever you want to.
A Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) is a device that continuously records the amount of glucose and is usually inserted in the stomach area.
Both systems measure the glucose levels in the fluid just under the skin, through a small cannula which can be inserted at home and needs changing every few days. There is a time delay between the real glucose in the blood and the glucose level under the skin, so you may still need to do finger-prick tests before deciding on an insulin dose or when treating a hypo. Glucose levels change most rapidly after eating or exercising. Flash glucose monitoring and CGM is usually only recommended for people with type 1 diabetes, availability and funding for these systems will vary; so seek guidance from your local healthcare provider.
How does my healthcare professional check my blood glucose?
HbA1c is your average blood glucose levels for the last 2-3 months. A high HbA1c result means that you have too much glucose in your blood. This is one of the diabetes care measures that you need to get at least once a year.
Have a look at the other care measures you should receive in the resource below. You can also find more resources about how you can monitor your diabetes.
Register to access your GP health results
Do you know your latest HbA1c reading? If you have diabetes you can register to access your GP diabetes health results through our patient access dashboard.
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This video discusses how to make the most of your diabetes team.
Flash glucose monitors are a way of measuring your blood glucose levels without having to prick your fingers. It is a small sensor that you wear just under your skin and records your glucose (sugar) levels continuously throughout the day and night.
In this video we discuss HbA1c, a blood test that measures blood glucose control over the last 3 months.
This video explains the 3 treatment targets, why they are important.
This page explains what blood glucose testing is and why it is required for people with diabetes. It covers what the numbers mean, how to control your blood glucose level, and how and when to test your blood glucose.
This resource explains how blood glucose levels in women and girls with diabetes can be affected by their periods and provides some tips for managing diabetes around periods.
This resource is for people who are about to start or have started using the FreeStyle Libre. Please work through the sections within the resource to learn more about the Libre.
This page explains the HbA1c blood test and how it is useful in monitoring diabetes.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring is available for patients in England who fit the criteria defined by NHS England.
Real time continuous glucose monitoring is a method of continually measuring the glucose levels within the interstitial fluid.
There are a number of factors that can affect your blood glucose levels, particularly if you are on insulin. This resource explores some of the reasons that may be causing your high blood glucose levels.
Carbohydrate counting is a way of matching insulin requirements with the amount of carbohydrate that you eat or drink. This course will give you everything you need to know about counting carbs.