How to Monitor Blood Sugar?

If you have diabetes, you have an important role in your own medical care, and testing your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is an opportunity for you to take control of your health.

Although diabetes is a chronic condition, it can usually be controlled with lifestyle changes and medication. The main goal of treatment is to keep blood sugar levels in the normal or near-normal range. Checking your blood sugar is one of the best ways to know how well your diabetes treatment plan is working. Continuous glucose monitors have also become popular, especially for people who use an insulin pump.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose can aid in diabetes control by:

• Facilitating the development of an individualized blood glucose profile, which can then guide health care professionals in treatment planning for an individualized diabetic regimen;
• Giving people with diabetes and their families the ability to make appropriate day-to-day treatment choices in diet and physical activity as well as in insulin or other agents;
• Improving person's recognition of hypoglycemia or severe hyperglycemia;
• Enhancing patient education and patient empowerment regarding the effects of lifestyle and pharmaceutical intervention on glycemic control;
• Provide immediate feedback regarding the impact of specific eating and exercise actions;
• Assess critical nuances of the disease to help the person make the very best choices;
• Detect differences between weekend and weekday schedules and habits;
• Facilitate positive and healthy patient self-care behaviors.

When to test your blood sugar?

How often you need to test your blood sugar level depends on the type of diabetes you have and your individual diabetes treatment plan.

Type 1 diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, your doctor may recommend testing your blood sugar level at least three times a day, perhaps before and after certain meals, before and after exercise, and before bed. You may need to check your blood sugar level more often if you're ill or you change your daily routine.

Type 2 diabetes

If you take medication (with or without insulin) to manage type 2 diabetes, it is recommended testing your blood sugar level once a day. If you manage type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone, you may need to test your blood sugar level even less often.

How do I measure my blood sugar level?

In general, you will follow the steps below. Different glucose meters work differently, so be sure to check with your doctor for advice specifically for you.

• Wash your hands and dry them well before doing the test.
• Use an alcohol pad to clean the area that you're going to prick. With many glucose meters, you get a drop of blood from your fingertip. However, with some meters, you can also use your forearm, thigh or the fleshy part of your hand.
• Prick yourself with a sterile lancet to get a drop of blood (If you prick your fingertip, it may be easier and less painful to prick it on one side, not on the pad).
• Place the drop of blood on the test strip.
• Follow the instructions for inserting the test strip into the glucose meter.
• The meter will give you a number for your blood sugar level.

What are the normal results?

Normal Results are:

• Before meals: 70 - 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
• After meals: Less than 180 mg/dL

Values can vary depending on physical activity, meals, and insulin administration.

Record the results of each blood sugar reading, whether you jot the results in a log or your monitor keeps track for you. If your blood sugar readings are consistently higher or lower than your target range or blood sugar extremes don't respond to adjustments in diet or medication, you may need to revise your treatment plan.

Remember, you're not in this alone. Work together with your family and supporters to make sure you're doing everything you can to prevent diabetes complications.