Glucose Levels Explained

What is glucose and why does it matter?

Glucose levels tell you the amount of glucose in the blood. 

Glucose enters the bloodstream from food and drink. It’s the main energy source for the cells in your body. 

When you don’t produce enough insulin, your body cannot effectively transport the glucose out of the bloodstream to keep your glucose levels within a healthy range¹.

Elevated glucose levels are often an indicator of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and if left untreated can cause damage longer term.

Glucose levels and type 1 diabetes

Tracking glucose levels is important for people with type 1 diabetes as the body can no longer regulate glucose by itself. This is due to the lack of insulin production.

While everyone’s glucose levels will fluctuate, for people with type 1 diabetes these fluctuations can be huge. This can leave you feeling unwell, and it can also become dangerous.

Instead, insulin is manually dosed into the body through injections or an insulin pump.

Testing your glucose regularly will help you to spot and treat levels that are too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia) in their early stages before things become too serious. Hyperglycaemia is usually treated with insulin, while hypoglycaemia is normally treated with glucose.

Take a look at these pages on both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia if you want to learn more.

What is a normal glucose range?

For people with type 1 diabetes, a glucose reading above 7mmol/l before a meal, and above 8.5mmol/l two hours after a meal could be considered high².

In general, a glucose reading below 4 mmol/l is considered low, according to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) ³.

Your healthcare team can help you with your specific glucose targets. 

Living with type 1 diabetes means experiencing both low and high glucose levels, and this is a common aspect of managing the condition.

However, it’s worth talking to your diabetes team if you think you’re experiencing too many, as they can both lead to health complications longer term. 

How do I check my glucose level?

Glucose levels can be checked by finger prick test and blood glucose meter or by using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Finger prick testing

A finger prick test will give you a glucose reading which is a snapshot of that moment. It’s a quick test in which you draw blood using a lancet. You place the blood onto a test strip which is read by a glucose meter.

Your healthcare team will show you how to do a finger prick test, but here are the key steps from Diabetes UK⁴:

• Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Don’t use wet wipes as the glycerine in them can affect the test result. It’s easier to draw blood from warm hands.
• Put a new test strip into the meter according to the meter’s instructions.
• Place a new lancet into your finger prick device and set the device by pulling or clicking the plunger (check individual instructions for details). 
• Choose a finger to prick but avoid your thumb or index finger, which is the finger next to your thumb. Aim for the side of your finger rather than the very tip and avoid getting too close to your nail.
• Place the finger prick device against the side of your finger and press the plunger. It’s a good idea to alternate the finger you prick each time. 
• Gently squeeze the finger to draw out the blood and hold it against the test strip to fill it as directed. Glucose meters usually beep or start a countdown when the sample size is big enough.
• Check your finger to assess the bleeding and use a tissue if needed, then take out the lancet and throw it away in your sharps bin.
• By this time, your meter will probably show the result. Note it down.
• You can use the same tissue to take out the test strip and throw that away too. Taking out the strip will usually turn the meter off, but again refer to your meter’s specific instructions for details. 

Monitoring with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

An increasing number of people are opting for continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems instead of traditional finger prick tests. A small sensor is applied to the skin with a cannula that measures glucose levels from what’s known as interstitial fluid beneath the skin, every few minutes.

Due to the frequency of glucose readings, CGM sensors give you a much more complete picture of where your glucose levels are, where they’ve been and where they’re heading*. 

You’ll be able to tell if they’re rising or falling, so you can make more informed treatment decisions to help keep your glucose levels within range. 

What about HbA1c?

If you live with type 1 diabetes, your healthcare team will likely request a regular HbA1c test. This measures your average glucose level over the past three months.

Data from a CGM sensor (like the Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) or the Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP)) may also be used alongside your HbA1c. This data will help your diabetes team spot trends or patterns in your glucose levels.  

Addressing these patterns, particularly if your levels are elevated, can help to prevent long term complications.

Thanks to increasing advances in diabetes technology, as well as in research and our understanding of the condition, a person with type 1 diabetes can absolutely lead a full life.

Individual glucose targets may differ, so it’s best to speak to your healthcare team to get personalised advice on managing your glucose levels.

Glucose levels for diagnosing diabetes

Glucose testing is a key measure for diagnosing diabetes, and since 1965 the World Health Organization (WHO) has published guidelines for the diagnosis and classification of diabetes⁵.

Below is the criteria for diabetes and prediabetes³:

How can Omnipod® help?

Omnipod® Pod Therapy is an insulin management system designed for people living with type 1 diabetes. 

It’s what’s known as a ‘patch pump’ worn directly on the body. Say goodbye to multiple daily injections and insulin pump tubing with our two systems:

Omnipod DASH® is a wireless, tubeless insulin delivery system that provides insulin for up to 3 days (72 hours) with each waterproof‡ Pod. 

Omnipod® 5 is similar to the DASH, but the Pods work in communication with a glucose sensor to automatically adjust basal insulin delivery every five minutes.