Numbers Tell Part of Your Story

Your blood sugar rises and falls through the day. It does not stay flat. So the time of a reading matters.

A reading after waking can look very different from one after lunch. Some people see a rise early in the morning. A single reading is like a photo of one moment, not the whole day.

Several everyday things can move your blood sugar. Food is one of them. Activity, like a walk, is another. Short sleep, illness and stress can move it too.

Each person responds a little differently. The size and direction of the change can vary. So a reading means more when you know what the day was like.

Some prescribed medicines can change your readings too. Late or missed doses can change them as well. Ask your doctor how your medicines may affect your numbers.

One unusual number matters less than a pattern. A pattern is something that repeats over several days. That is why your doctor looks at patterns, not single readings.

Key takeaways

• Blood sugar rises and falls through the day, so timing matters.
• Food, activity, short sleep, illness and stress can all shift a reading.
• A pattern over several days tells you more than one unusual number.

Try it

At your next check, note the time and what you ate, did or felt that day. Ask your care team how often they want you to check.