Lifestyle
Is it better to check blood sugar immediately after waking up or 1-2 hours after having breakfast?


By Kajal Sharma - 09 Oct 2025 04:14 PM
Many of us have a lot of questions about what the best practices for good health are. We found a relevant question on Quora asking when the right time to check blood sugar is. “Is it better to check your blood sugar immediately after waking up or 1-2 hours post-breakfast?” Therefore, we opted to consult a diabetologist.For those with diabetes, keeping an eye on blood sugar (glucose) levels is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of the current treatment plan. It provides guidance on daily and sometimes even hourly management of your diabetes.When you have diabetes, especially if you're on insulin, it's crucial to monitor your blood sugar levels. Monitoring blood sugar levels can provide insights to guide your choices regarding diet, exercise, and insulin dosage. Your blood sugar can be influenced by a number of factors. With time and practice, you can learn to anticipate some of these impacts, while others are very challenging or impossible to foresee.
This is why, if your healthcare provider suggests it, you should regularly monitor your blood sugar levels.As an example, the following scenarios usually elevate blood sugar levels: Taking in carbohydrates. Insufficient use of diabetes medication or insulin, or failing to take a dose. Regular absence of physical activity or receiving less exercise than normal. Using corticosteroid (steroid) medications. Health issues, operations, or strain. Dawn phenomenon (a morning spike in blood sugar levels that is probably caused by natural hormonal changes, including cortisol). Tobacco use. Flüssigkeitsmangel. Adolescence.Blood sugar levels usually drop in the following situations: Omitting meals. Excessive use of diabetes medication or insulin. Exercise. The situations listed below can increase or decrease your blood sugar, depending on your individual biology and other factors: Menstrual periods. Timing of food, medication, and insulin. Consuming drinks with alcohol. Medication interactions not related to diabetes.Because of all these differing variables, it’s crucial to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. This is the only method to determine with certainty when your blood sugar levels are fluctuating. And it aids in understanding how to modify your management approach for both you and your healthcare provider.