Can a blood glucose meter measure blood sugar levels one hour after a meal?

Sep 05, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health
Disease description:

My father has had diabetes for many years, and his doctor advised him to monitor his blood sugar regularly. I would like to ask if it is appropriate to use a blood glucose meter to check blood sugar one hour after a meal?

Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng

A blood glucose meter can measure blood sugar levels one hour after a meal. A blood glucose meter is a device used to monitor blood sugar levels, and it can measure the concentration of glucose in the blood.

When using a blood glucose meter to check blood sugar one hour after eating, the following points should be noted:

1. Timing: Start timing from the first bite of food, and perform the blood glucose test one hour later. This ensures measurement accuracy.

2. Proper operation: Follow the blood glucose meter's user manual for operation, including steps such as washing hands, disinfecting the blood sampling site, proper blood collection, and inserting the test strip correctly.

3. Record results: Record the measured results and compare them with previous readings to observe trends in blood sugar changes.

In general, the normal value for blood glucose one hour after a meal in non-pregnant individuals is below 7.8 mmol/L. If it exceeds 11.1 mmol/L, there may be a risk of diabetes. However, due to differences in populations and diets, this value is not absolute.