About Self-Monitoring for Blood Glucose (SMBG)

Checking your blood sugar at home, called self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), is an important part of managing diabetes. It means regularly testing your blood sugar levels using a glucose meter so you can make informed choices about meals, physical activity, and medicines such as insulin. SMBG results also provide useful information your healthcare team can use to guide your care.

What Does SMBG Stand For?

SMBG stands for self-monitoring of blood glucose, the process of checking your own blood sugar levels with a blood glucose meter.

Why Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Matters:

It helps you see how well your body is controlling blood sugar and set realistic goals.
It can prevent both short-term and long-term problems caused by uncontrolled diabetes.
It lowers the chances of extreme blood sugar levels affecting your thinking and mood.
It gives useful information for your healthcare team to improve your care.

SMBG vs. Continuous Glucose Monitoring (GCM):

SMBG involves checking blood glucose at specific times using a finger-stick blood sample and glucose meter. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) uses a wearable device to estimate your glucose levels throughout the day and night. A healthcare provider can help determine which option may be best appropriate for your individual treatment plan.

Equipment needed for Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose:

The healthcare provider can help you select a blood glucose monitor to meet your individual needs. Considerations may include:
- Accuracy
- Ease of use
- Amount of blood needed for each test
- Cost of test strips
- Capability to store data (automatically keep track of results)
- Size and portability
- Anticipated frequency of testing: The healthcare provider may recommend continuous blood sugar monitors for some people.

Other Equipment and Supplies:
- Lancets: These are special needles to poke a fingertip to get a drop of blood needed for the blood glucose test.
- Alcohol wipes: These may be needed to wipe the surface of the finger before obtaining the blood sample or wipe away excess blood after a finger prick.
- Needle box: A hard-sided container is needed to discard lancets or other sharps. Used lancets or needles should not be thrown away in the regular trash.
- Test strips: These are usually specific to the blood glucose meter machine.

How to Check Your Blood Sugar:

Be sure to follow the instructions for your specific blood glucose meter.

Wash and dry your hands.
Use a small device (lancing device) to prick the side of a finger and get a tiny drop of blood.
Place the blood on a test strip in a glucose meter.
Wait for the meter to show your blood sugar result.

What to Do with Your Results:

Add the results to a tracker or diary. This may help you and your healthcare provider see patterns in your blood sugar control.
Use the results to adjust your diet, exercise, or medicine with the advice of your healthcare provider to reach your health goals.
Discuss with your doctor how often you should test and what the numbers mean including your target blood sugar levels.
If you use insulin, watch for very high or low blood sugar, even if you don’t feel symptoms.

Remember, always consult with your healthcare professional about self-monitoring frequency, interpretation of results, and any necessary adjustments. They can help you connect with a diabetes education program that supports your specific needs.