The CGM Blog
How Often Should You Test Your Glucose?
Learn more about when you need to test your glucose levels and explore the options for monitoring your glucose on your own.
Note: The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.**
Testing your blood sugar is an integral part of diabetes management. It helps you understand what’s happening in your body so you can take steps to regulate your blood sugar. Your body converts sugars and carbohydrates into a soluble molecules called glucose, and it’s the glucose we measure either in a blood sample or through interstitial fluids between the cells. So, how often should you test your blood glucose?
Each person living with diabetes has different needs when it comes to managing the condition. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all schedule for checking your glucose. You should always work with your doctor to determine how frequently you should test your glucose and discuss the best glucose monitoring technology to use. Learning more about glucose testing can help give you a better understanding of your needs when it comes to monitoring your glucose levels.
Some individuals may be at greater risk of being diagnosed with diabetes than others. It’s not yet possible to tell for sure whether someone will develop type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the future, even if they have the risk factors associated with the condition.1 Children and those with a parent or sibling living with T1D are more likely to experience it.2
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes can be diagnosed by routine blood testing through your doctor. Those who have the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) should ask their doctor about getting their blood sugar tested. A few of the risk factors for T2D include:2
- Being over the age of 40
- Having a parent, sibling, or child who is living with T2D
- Genetic predisposition
- Having African, Arab, Hispanic, Indigenous, Asian, or South Asian heritage
- Experiencing obesity or are overweight
- Having a history of hypertension, or high blood pressure
- Being a regular smoker
Diabetes Canada recommends that people over the age of 40 should have their blood sugar tested every three years to screen for diabetes. Those with more risk factors should be tested when they are younger and more frequently.1 Individuals who have been diagnosed with diabetes need to test their glucose levels regularly. Diabetes Canada recommends that people living with diabetes should get their blood tested by their doctor every three months if they are struggling to reach their glucose targets or when making adjustments to their diabetes management plan.3 You may need to get your blood tested more frequently if you and your doctor are making significant changes to your treatment plan.3 In addition to regular glucose testing at the doctor’s office, individuals living with diabetes need to check their glucose levels on their own.3 You should talk to your doctor and diabetes care team to determine the best way to check your glucose levels and how often.
How to Monitor Your Glucose Levels
For individuals living with diabetes, keeping an eye on your glucose levels is likely a major part of your everyday life. It’s important to pick a tool that fits in with your lifestyle. There are a few options for monitoring your glucose levels when you live with diabetes.
Blood Glucose Meters
You may be most familiar with blood glucose meters (BGMs) which require you to wash and dry your hands before you prick your finger and draw blood to measure glucose levels in the body. When you use a BGM, you have to make time to check your blood sugar a few times a day. Diabetes Canada has a helpful tool that provides general guidance on how often you should test your glucose levels. Testing frequency will largely depend on your lifestyle, diet, and medication. You may be testing 4 to 10 times a day if you have type 1 diabetes, according to the Mayo Clinic4, especially when you make changes to your diabetes treatment plan or when you’re noticing new symptoms.4 Be sure to speak with your doctor for a personalized schedule for checking your glucose.
Flash Glucose Monitoring
Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) systems eliminate the need for finger pricks and enable you to see your glucose readings displayed via your smartphone or a hand-held receiver. FGM systems use a small wearable device attached to your body that usually consists of a glucose sensor inserted just below the skin that sends readings to your display device, that measures glucose found in interstitial fluids.
With FGM systems, you still need to scan your display device to the sensor on your body to get your glucose readings. This means that you won’t have visibility into what’s going on with your glucose until you remember to scan, potentially creating blind spots where you may miss important changes in your glucose levels, like when you’re heading towards a high or low. You’ll want to work with your doctor to determine how often you should scan your device and consult your glucose data.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
A continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system also consists of a wearable sensor and has notable benefits over FGM and BGM. Like FGM, CGM measures the amount of glucose in your interstitial fluid between your cells.
- No routine fingersticks* or scanning needed: CGM systems can send glucose data directly from the sensor on your body to your display device continuously, without the need to remember to tap or perform frequent finger pricks. Dexcom CGM Systems, such as the Dexcom G7 CGM System, can send glucose readings to your compatible smart device or receiver up to every five minutes.†
- Glucose readings in real-time and timely alerts: CGM systems can offer real-time insight into what’s happening with your glucose. Because CGM systems collect glucose data continuously and automatically send it to a connected device, they can offer alerts that let you know about important changes in your glucose. This can give you a little extra peace of mind if you’re concerned about missing the signs of HYPOglycemia, low glucose, or HYPERglycemia, high glucose.
- A built-in Urgent Low Alert that can let you know the moment you’re experiencing a serious low under 3.1 mmol/L.
- Set custom high glucose alerts that notify you when your levels are higher than your target glucose range (generally defined by Diabetes Canada as 3.9–10.0 mmol/L 5).
- Know before you go low: CGM systems can show you where your glucose is headed in the next few minutes so you can take proactive action to manage your levels. BGMs can only give you a snapshot of where your glucose is at the moment you prick your finger. Similarly, FGM systems can only show you what’s going on with your glucose when you scan. Continuous readings enable an algorithm built into CGM systems to predict whether your glucose may be trending up or down. Dexcom CGM Systems also include a predictive Urgent Low Soon Alert that can let you know up to 20 minutes before a serious low under 3.1 mmol/L, empowering you to prevent lows before they’re likely to happen.
Understanding Your Glucose Data
Glucose readings provide important information about what’s happening inside your body. This information can help your doctor make better recommendations and give you the care you need. Glucose data is also a powerful tool that can help you take control of your diabetes management and continue to improve your self-care routine.
Having more glucose readings at your fingertips can help you get a better view of what influences your glucose levels. Dexcom CGM Systems provide clear, easy-to-understand trend arrows and graphs that can simplify interpreting your numbers, empowering you to uncover insights that inform treatment decisions. Dexcom apps show up to 24 hours of glucose data in addition to real-time and predictive glucose readings.
For even more in-depth insights, there is the Dexcom Clarity app. This standalone app lets you view your glucose data from days, weeks, months, or even years in the past and seamlessly share this information with your diabetes care team. Dexcom Clarity shows helpful metrics like your average time in range (TIR) and can provide insights about recurring patterns like nighttime lows. It also shows you your best glucose days so you can celebrate your wins along the way. The Dexcom G7 app has an integrated Dexcom Clarity card below the real-time glucose graph that can show you glucose insights from up to the last 90 days, your TIR and average glucose at a glance.
Studies have shown that using Dexcom CGM leads to reliable treatment decisions that result in better health outcomes.6-10 By providing a comprehensive view of glucose levels with continuous readings, Dexcom CGM Systems are proven to lower A1C7, reduce hypoglycemia, and help you spend more time in your target glucose range.6-8
Keep an Eye on Your Glucose with Greater Confidence
Dexcom CGM Systems make it a little easier to monitor your glucose levels every day. With glucose data in the palm of your hand, you can feel more confident making treatment decisions in the moment and get extra peace of mind around knowing if you’re going high or low. Explore Dexcom CGM to find out if it’s a good fit for your diabetes management plan.
* If your glucose alerts and readings from the Dexcom CGM System do not match symptoms or expectations, use a blood glucose meter to make diabetes treatment decisions.
** The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
† For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility.
** The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
† For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit dexcom.com/compatibility.
1 Ekoe JM, Goldenberg R, Katz P. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Screening for Diabetes in Adults. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42 Suppl 1:S16-S19. doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.004
2 Diabetes Risk Factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 5, 2022. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/risk-factors.html
3 Berard LD, et al. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Monitoring Glycemic Control. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42 Suppl 1:S47-S53. doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.007
4 Mayo Clinic. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how. Updated January 16, 2024. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-sugar/art-20046628
5 Imran AS, et. al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Targets for Glycemic Control. Can J Diabetes. 2018:42(S42–S46). doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.030
6 Beck, RW, et al. JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378.
7 Beck RW, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(6):365-374.
8 Martens T, et al. JAMA. 2021;325(22):2262-2272.
9 Laffel LM, et al. JAMA. 2020;323(23):2388-2396.
10 Welsh JB, et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2024;18(1):143-7.
12 Heinemann L, et al. Lancet 2018;391 :1367-77.
2 Diabetes Risk Factors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 5, 2022. Accessed December 7, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/risk-factors.html
3 Berard LD, et al. Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Monitoring Glycemic Control. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42 Suppl 1:S47-S53. doi:10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.007
4 Mayo Clinic. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how. Updated January 16, 2024. Accessed January 19, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-sugar/art-20046628
5 Imran AS, et. al. Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada: Targets for Glycemic Control. Can J Diabetes. 2018:42(S42–S46). doi: 10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.030
6 Beck, RW, et al. JAMA. 2017;317(4):371-378.
7 Beck RW, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(6):365-374.
8 Martens T, et al. JAMA. 2021;325(22):2262-2272.
9 Laffel LM, et al. JAMA. 2020;323(23):2388-2396.
10 Welsh JB, et al. J Diabetes Sci Technol. 2024;18(1):143-7.
12 Heinemann L, et al. Lancet 2018;391 :1367-77.