At first, testing my blood  sugar seemed like a hassle.

With my busy schedule, I didn't need one more thing to worry about.

But after a little time, I found  a routine that works for me.

I check right before my meals and  again about an hour after my meals.

Sometimes I also check before and after  a walk or when I do a new activity.

I can see how much my blood  sugar goes down with activity or how much it goes up after eating.

And it starts to make sense.

Those things are affecting my numbers.

So I get a clearer picture of my health.

Testing helps me see the connections— how things in my daily life affect my blood sugar.

I started out by using finger-stick tests  and a glucose meter, which worked great.

But for the last few months I've been using a continuous  glucose monitor, or CGM.

It has a little sensor that attaches to  my body so I can check my blood sugar.

Having all this information—right at my fingertips —helps me make changes that keep  my numbers where I want them.

They aren't big changes, but  they make a big difference.

I watch my portions and cut down on  certain foods, especially carbohydrates.

Sometimes I only eat one  piece of bread with dinner, and sometimes I don't have any.

I still enjoy dessert now and  then, but I eat a smaller portion.

You don't have to give up everything you  like or completely change how you eat.

Sometimes, after seeing how a  food makes my blood sugar rise, I take a 15-minute walk and that can bring  my numbers down to where I want them.

You don't have to be perfect.

It comes down to making small,  simple changes you can live with.

But seeing my numbers helps inspire me.

With time and practice, the testing  has gotten a lot easier too— now that I understand what the numbers mean.

It's just part of my day now.

And seeing my numbers improve?

Well, it's an immediate reward that  the changes I've been making work.

It's definitely worth it.