
Prevention Method 2: Buy a glucometer and test strips
The strategy I’m referring to is using a glucometer to test your post-meal blood sugars. It’s simple, accessible and puts the power of knowledge in your hands. A glucometer is a device that measures blood sugar. You prick your finger with a sterilized lancet, and then you apply the drop of blood to a “test strip” that has been inserted into the glucometer, and it measures your blood sugar.Step one: test your blood sugar
- Test your blood sugar first thing in the morning after fasting for at least 12 hours. Drink a little bit of water just after rising, but don’t eat anything or exercise before the test. This is your fasting blood sugar level.
- Test your blood sugar again just before lunch.
- Eat your typical lunch. Do not eat anything for the next three hours. Test your blood sugar one hour after lunch.
- Test your blood sugar two hours after lunch.
- Test your blood sugar three hours after lunch.
Step two: interpret your results
Healthy targets for blood sugar according to the scientific literature are as follows:Marker | Ideal* |
Fasting blood glucose (mg/dL) | <86 |
OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 1 hour) | <140 |
OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 2 hours) | <120 |
OGGT / post-meal (mg/dL after 3 hours) | Back to baseline |