Use this calculator to determine how frequently your patient should be checking their blood glucose, with some suggested patterns for monitoring.
ResetWhat type of diabetes does your patient have?
Type 1 diabetesIs your patient with type 1 diabetes on an insulin pump?
Yes NoIs your patient with type 1 diabetes taking 4 or more doses of insulin daily?
Yes NoIs your patient's A1C to target (typically ≤7.0%)?
Yes NoWhat drug(s) does your patient take for their type 2 diabetes?
Insulin1: Examples include: Glicazide (Diamicron®), Glimepiride (Amaryl®), Glyburide (DiaBeta®), Nateglinide (Starlix®), Repaglinide (Gluconorm®)
2: Examples include: Acarbose (Glucobay®), Exenatide (Byetta®), Linagliptin (Trajenta™), Liraglutide (Victoza®), Long Acting Metformin (Glumetza®), Metformin (Glucophage®), Saxagliptin (Onglyza®), Sitagliptin (Januvia®)
Is your patient on an insulin pump?
Yes NoHow often does your patient use insulin?
Once dailyWhich of these insulins does your patient use?
Premix insulin twice dailyIs your patient sick or starting a steroid drug?
Yes NoHas your patient recently been diagnosed with diabetes (<6 months)?
Yes NoPlease complete step 1
NPH or long-acting insulin analogue, typically given at bedtime.
SMBG at least as often as insulin is being given.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | NPH/long (basal) |
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SMBG pattern |
SMBG test |
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Adjustment | Basal insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
NPH or long-acting insulin analogue, typically given at bedtime.
SMBG ≥2 times per day, to assist in lifestyle and/or medication changes until glycemic targets are met.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | NPH/long (basal) |
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SMBG pattern: |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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Alternating daily |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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Adjustment | Bedtime insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Insulin doses are typically given pre-breakfast and pre-supper.
SMBG at least as often as insulin is being given.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | Premix / NPH |
Premix / NPH |
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SMBG pattern 1: Starting |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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SMBG pattern 2: |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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Stable alternating daily |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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Adjustment | Pre-supper insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre- breakfast insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre- breakfast insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-supper insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Insulin doses are typically given as a rapid-acting analogue or regular insulin (bolus) before one meal plus NPH or long-acting insulin analogue given at bedtime.
SMBG at least as often as insulin is being given.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | Rapid / regular (bolus) |
NPH / long (basal) |
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SMBG pattern 1: Starting |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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SMBG pattern 2: |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
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Stable alternating daily |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
||||||
Adjustment | Basal insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-supper bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Insulin doses are typically given as a rapid-acting analogue or regular insulin (bolus) before each meal, and NPH or long-acting analogue (basal) typically given at bedtime.
SMBG at least as often as insulin is being given.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | Rapid / regular (bolus) |
Rapid / regular (bolus) |
Rapid / regular (bolus) |
NPH / long (basal) |
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SMBG pattern 1: Starting or Stable |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
||||
SMBG pattern 2: Intensive management BG |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
Adjustment | Basal insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-breakfast bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-lunch bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-supper bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Basal insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Insulin doses are typically given as a rapid-acting analogue (bolus) before each meal and a continuous rapid-acting insulin analogue throughout the day and night.
SMBG at least as often as insulin is being given.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Insulin | Rapid / (bolus) |
Rapid / (bolus) |
Rapid / (bolus) |
|||||
rapid (basal) | ||||||||
SMBG pattern 1: Starting or Stable |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
||||
SMBG pattern 2: Intensive management |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
SMBG test |
Adjustment | Basal insulin (night) ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-breakfast bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-lunch bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Pre-supper bolus insulin ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
Basal insulin (night) ↑ if BG hi ↓ if BG low |
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or adjust basal insulin (day) |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Check ≥1 time per day, on average, and at different times of day to learn the effects of various meals, exercise and/or medications on blood glucose.
Please pick one of the following SMBG patterns below, considering the clinical context as wel as patient preference.
SMBG basic pattern.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG pattern to learn the effects of various meals.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG pattern to learn the effects of exercise.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | Exercise | TEST | ||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | Exercise | TEST | ||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG to get a snapshot of blood glucose levels throughout the day, on one day of the week, which is a typical day.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Infrequent checking recommended. Check 1 to 2 times per week.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
Check ≥2 times per day, to assist in lifestyle and/or medication changes until glycemic targets are met.
Please pick one of the following SMBG patterns below, considering the clinical context as wel as patient preference.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
Check ≥2 times per day, to assist in lifestyle and/or medication changes until glycemic targets are met.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
Check ≥2 times per day, to assist in lifestyle and/or medication changes until glycemic targets are met.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday | ||||||||
Sunday |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
SMBG needs to be individualized and may involve testing ≥4 times per day.
Please pick one of the following SMBG patterns below, considering the clinical context as wel as patient preference.
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
Breakfast | Lunch | Supper | Bedtime | Night | ||||
before | after | before | after | before | after | |||
Sunday | ||||||||
Monday | ||||||||
Tuesday | ||||||||
Wednesday | ||||||||
Thursday | ||||||||
Friday | ||||||||
Saturday |
SMBG Pattern Recommendation:Download PDF
ALL SMBG Patterns:Download PDF
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