Diabetes In Children: Checking Blood Sugar In A Child

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Introduction

Your child needs to know when his or her blood sugar level is outside the target range. Fortunately, your child's blood sugar level can be checked anywhere and anytime by using a home blood sugar (glucose) meter. Blood sugar meters give results in less than a minute.

Knowing your child's blood sugar level helps you treat low or high blood sugar before it becomes an emergency. It also helps you know how exercise and food affect your child's blood sugar and how much short-acting insulin to give (if your child takes insulin).

Five keys to success in monitoring your child's blood sugar are:

• Keeping the meter and supplies with your child at all times.
• Making it a habit to check your child's blood sugar level by building it into his or her routine.
• Pricking the sides of your child's fingers, not the tips. The tip of a finger is more sensitive than the sides.
• Checking the meter's accuracy when you visit the doctor by comparing results with the doctor's results.
• Keeping the meter properly maintained and calibrated with the test strips.

 What is home blood sugar monitoring?

 Why should blood sugar be monitored?

 How is blood sugar monitored?

 Where to go from here

For more information, see:

• Type 1 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
• Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
• Type 2 Diabetes in Children

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Last updated:	January 30, 2007
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition, Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Diabetes Educator
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC