Blood Sugar Summary Blood sugar, or glucose, is the main sugar found in your blood. It comes from the food you eat, and is your body’s main source of energy. Your blood carries glucose to all of your body’s cells to use for energy. Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. Even if you don’t have diabetes, sometimes you may have problems with blood sugar that is too low or too high. Keeping a regular schedule of eating, activity, and taking any medicines you need can help. If you do have diabetes, it is very important to keep your blood sugar numbers in your target range. You may need to check your blood sugar several times each day. Your health care provider will also do a blood test called an A1C. It checks your average blood sugar level over the past three months. If your blood sugar is too high, you may need to take medicines and/or follow a special diet. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Living With A1C and eAG American Diabetes Association Blood Glucose Monitoring Devices Food and Drug Administration Blood Glucose Record Nemours Foundation Monitoring American Association of Diabetes Educators Self-Blood Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes Mellitus (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Tight Diabetes Control American Diabetes Association Array A1C test Blood sugar test – blood Glucose screening and tolerance tests during pregnancy Home blood sugar testing Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers National Diabetes Education Program Managing your blood sugar Monitor blood glucose – slideshow Diagnosis and Tests A1C Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry A1C Test and Diabetes National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diagnosis of Diabetes and Prediabetes National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Glucose Tests American Association for Clinical Chemistry Start Here All about Blood Glucose American Diabetes Association Blood Sugar Testing: Why, When and How Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Continuous Glucose Monitoring National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Diabetes Management: How Lifestyle, Daily Routine Affect Blood Sugar Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Diabetes: Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Level American Academy of Family Physicians Find an Expert American Diabetes Association American Diabetes Association Directory of Diabetes Organizations National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Find a Diabetes Educator American Association of Diabetes Educators National Diabetes Education Program National Diabetes Education Program National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Children Blood Test: Glucose Nemours Foundation Diabetes Control: Why It’s Important (For Kids) Nemours Foundation Keeping Track of Your Blood Sugar (For Kids) Nemours Foundation Monitoring Blood Sugar: The Importance of Checking Blood Sugar Levels Nemours Foundation Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Blood Glucose National Institutes of Health Patient Handouts Continuous Glucose Monitoring National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Specifics Diabetes and Exercise: When to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Donohue syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: type A insulin resistance syndrome National Library of Medicine Encyclopedia Glucose urine test Teenagers Keeping Track of Your Blood Sugar Nemours Foundation Statistics and Research Patient Access to Research American Diabetes Association Journal Articles Blood Sugar Related Issues What Is the Difference Between Hyperglycemia and Hypoglycemia? American Foundation for the Blind Women Your Glucose Meter Food and Drug Administration Latest News Evening Snacking Might Raise Odds for Breast Cancer’s Return HealthDay