The short answer
It depends on your treatment. People on insulin check often: NICE advises adults with type 1 diabetes to test at least four times a day, before each meal and before bed. With type 2 diabetes managed by diet or by tablets that do not cause low sugar, NICE does not advise routine finger-prick checks; the HbA1c blood test every 3 to 6 months is what tracks control. Regular home checks are advised on insulin, on tablets that can cause low sugar, after low-sugar episodes, and in pregnancy.
Diabetes care with your own GPMedically reviewed by Dr Debo Odulana, Founder and Chief Executive, Mezo. Last reviewed . This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Care is decided with you after an examination.
Who needs to check at home, and how often
NICE advises home finger-prick checks for:
- Type 1 diabetes: at least four times a day, including before each meal and before bed
- Type 2 diabetes on insulin: as often as your doctor sets
- Type 2 diabetes on tablets that can cause low sugar (such as the sulphonylureas), especially if you drive or operate machinery
- Anyone who has had low-sugar episodes
- Pregnancy, or planning a pregnancy
- For a short time when starting steroid medicines, or to confirm a suspected low
If you do not need daily checks
Most people with type 2 diabetes on diet, or on tablets that do not cause low sugar, are followed by HbA1c instead: NICE advises it every 3 to 6 months until stable, then every 6 months. Your sugar can rise when you are ill, so your doctor may ask you to check more often during an illness.
What the readings mean
Meters show mmol/L or mg/dL. Your own doctor's targets come first, but as a guide:
- Below 4 mmol/L (about 72 mg/dL) is low sugar (a hypo) and needs treating straight away
- NICE's targets for adults with type 1 diabetes are 5 to 7 mmol/L on waking and 4 to 7 before other meals
- A reading that is high now and then is common; readings that stay high need your doctor to review your treatment
- Write each reading down with the time and whether it was before or after food
Treating a low
The NHS advises taking something sugary straight away, such as a small glass of fruit juice or a sugary soft drink, then checking again after 10 minutes and repeating if still below 4. Once you are above 4, eat something more lasting, such as bread or your next meal. Tell your doctor about every low: your treatment may need changing.
Go to a hospital now
Call 112 or go to an emergency department straight away for:
- A low that does not improve after taking sugar, or someone who is too drowsy to swallow safely
- A fit, or being unconscious
- Vomiting, deep or fast breathing, drowsiness or confusion with high sugar
- A foot wound that is red, hot, swollen or changing colour
Common questions
How often should a type 2 diabetic check their blood sugar?
If you are on diet or tablets that do not cause low sugar, NICE does not advise routine home checks: the HbA1c every 3 to 6 months is the measure. On insulin or tablets that can cause lows, check as your doctor sets.
Should I check my blood sugar if I do not have diabetes?
Not routinely. If you are worried about diabetes, a doctor can order an HbA1c or a fasting blood sugar at a laboratory, which is more reliable than a home meter for diagnosis.
How often should a diabetic do HbA1c?
Every 3 to 6 months until it is stable on the same treatment, then every 6 months, according to NICE.
Can a doctor review my sugar readings by video?
Yes. A GP on Mezo goes through your readings and HbA1c by video, adjusts your treatment, orders your tests and books your next review.
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Checks on a schedule, not when something goes wrong
With a named GP on Mezo, your HbA1c and yearly checks are ordered on the schedule NICE sets, your readings are reviewed by video, and an endocrinologist is brought in when you need one.
See diabetes careSources and further reading
The guidelines and patient information this page is checked against. Care in Nigeria follows the same evidence; what differs is the price and where it is done.
- Type 2 diabetes in adults: management (NG28), blood glucose management. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Type 1 diabetes in adults: diagnosis and management (NG17). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Clinical guideline.
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia). NHS. Patient information.
Links last checked 29 October 2026.
Medical disclaimer: This guide is general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. Where your centre's instructions differ from this guide, follow theirs.