Blood sugar testing is an important part of diabetes care. We should know when and how to test our blood sugar.

If you have diabetes problems, checking your blood sugar levels is the key to keep healthy. Blood sugar testing helps many people with diabetes manage their condition and prevent health problems.

There are several main ways to check your blood sugar. You can use a device with a tiny sensor that measures your blood sugar levels during the day and at night. This is called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Or you can test your blood sugar with a small drop of blood using a portable electronic device as needed. This is called a glucose meter.

Continuous Glucose Monitor（CGM）

People with diabetes can choose to use CGM, especially those with type 1 diabetes. CGM can measure blood sugar every few minutes. Patients need to use a device placed on the skin and a sensor placed under the skin. These disposable sensors can be used for 10 days to 2 weeks, after which they need to be replaced. Other types of implanted sensors can last up to six months.

CGM consists of a wireless device worn on the body called a transmitter. The transmitter sends information from the sensor to a program that lets you check your blood sugar levels. The program can be viewed via a receiver, smartphone or insulin pump.

Some CGMS will always display your blood sugar reading. If your blood sugar rises or falls too quickly, an alarm is usually raised. Other CGMS require you to run a receiver on the sensor periodically to check your blood sugar. You may need to run it every few hours. Some people need to run more frequently.

Some CGM still require a fingertip blood test. The CGM needs to be set up based on these test results. This is called calibration. Fingertip blood testing also helps keep CGM readings accurate. Check your device’s user guide to see if fingertip blood testing is required and more information.