What’s normal?  Blood sugar levels are continuously fluctuating up and down. The following are two tests to evaluate blood sugar control:

• Home Blood Glucose Monitoring - This will tell you what your blood sugar level is at the moment that you do the test. Most people with diabetes should test their blood sugar at least once a day. Testing at different times during the day can help you with blood sugar control. Testing two hours after meals will tell you how well your body handled the food eaten at the previous meal. Testing before breakfast (fasting) will tell you how well your blood sugar was controlled over night.

Blood sugar goals should be determined by your physician, but here are guidelines from the Association of Clinical Endocrinologists:

• Before meals: Less than 110 Blood Sugar Level
• Two hours after meals: Less than 140 Blood Sugar Level
  

• A1c (or Hemoglobin A1c) - This test tracks long-term blood sugar control. This number gives an “average” of blood sugar levels over the last 2-3 months. The Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines gives a recommended goal for A1c to be less than 6.5 percent.