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Blood glucose monitoring

Checking your blood glucose level (blood glucose monitoring or self-monitoring) is an important part of managing gestational diabetes.

What is blood glucose monitoring?

Blood glucose monitoring involves checking your blood glucose level using a blood glucose meter.

The blood comes from a small prick to your finger made with a lancing device (finger pricker) and lancets. The drop of blood is placed on a strip inserted into the meter. Your blood glucose level will be displayed on the screen of the meter.

Checking your blood glucose levels can help you to:

Understand the effect of food and physical activity on your blood glucose levels.

Know when to get advice from your health professionals.

Develop confidence in managing your gestational diabetes.

Getting started

Your diabetes health professional can:

help you choose a blood glucose meter that is right for you
register you with the NDSS, so you can get blood glucose monitoring strips at a subsidised price
show you how to check your blood glucose levels
advise you on target blood glucose levels
let you know what to do if your blood glucose levels are outside the target range.

What you need

To check your blood glucose levels, you will need:

A blood glucose meter

A finger pricker and lancets

Blood glucose monitoring strips

A sharps container for your used lancets

Other forms of glucose monitoring

There are other forms of glucose monitoring, such as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM).

These may be useful but do not replace checking your blood glucose level with a blood glucose meter. CGM devices are not subsidised through the NDSS for gestational diabetes. This means they are more expensive than using a blood glucose meter. Talk to your diabetes health professionals if you would like more information.

How to get your blood glucose monitoring strips

If you register with the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) you can get subsidised blood glucose monitoring strips.

Once you have your NDSS registration number or card, you can get your NDSS products from an NDSS Access Point (Access Point). Most community pharmacies are Access Points. Your diabetes health professionals can help with information about your closest Access Point, or you can call the NDSS Helpline 1800 637 700.

You can get a further discount on some NDSS diabetes products if you hold one of the following concession cards:

Health Care card
Pensioner concession card
Safety Net card
Department of Veterans’ Affairs card.

Find out how to register with the NDSS. Ask your health professional for more information.

When to check your blood glucose levels

The most common times to check blood glucose levels are:

when you wake up in the morning (fasting)
one or two hours after the start of each main meal.

You may also need to check your blood glucose levels at other times, such as when you are sick. If you are using insulin to manage gestational diabetes your health professionals will provide advice about checking your blood glucose levels before driving and with physical activity.

Talk to your diabetes health professionals about when to check your blood glucose levels.

Watch our How to check your blood glucose level and How to use a lancing device videos

Keeping a record

Keeping a record of your blood glucose levels, your food and your physical activity can help you and your diabetes health professionals look for any patterns in your blood glucose levels.

You can keep track of your blood glucose levels on a record sheet, diary or by using an app. Talk to your diabetes health professionals about recording your blood glucose levels and how to best share your results with them. By keeping a record, you will know when to ask your diabetes health professionals for help.

Blood glucose targets

The following blood glucose targets are often recommended in Australia. These are only a general guide and your diabetes health professionals can advise you on the blood glucose targets that are right for you.

5.0 mmol/L or less before breakfast
7.4 mmol/L or less if you are testing one hour after the start of your meal OR
6.7 mmol/L or less if you are testing 2 hours after the start of your meal.

Balancing your blood glucose

Keeping your blood glucose level in the target range is all about finding the right balance, between the things that make your blood glucose level go up, such as the foods you eat, with the things that make it go down, such as physical activity or diabetes medication.

Blood glucose monitoring can help you manage gestational diabetes and know when you need to seek advice from your diabetes health professionals.

What makes your blood glucose level go up?

Carbohydrate foods break down into glucose in your bloodstream. These foods are an important source of energy for you and your baby. Getting the right amount and type of carbohydrates is the key to balancing blood glucose levels.

Stress and illness, and some medications may cause your blood glucose levels to rise. Ask your diabetes health professionals for more information.

What makes your blood glucose level go down?

The insulin your pancreas makes lowers your blood glucose levels. If your pancreas cannot make enough insulin, you may need medication to keep your blood glucose level in the target range. Insulin and the medication metformin help to lower your blood glucose levels.

Being physically active also lowers your blood glucose levels. This happens not only while you move, but also for hours after.