Self-testing your blood sugar (blood glucose) may be crucial for controlling diabetes and preventing problems. You can use a continuous monitoring device called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Alternatively, you may test your blood sugar at home with a portable electronic device called a blood sugar meter that uses a tiny sample of your blood.
Why Track Your Blood Sugar?
Blood sugar testing is vital for managing diabetes. It can assist you in the following ways:
- Check blood sugar levels after taking diabetes drugs.
- High or low blood sugar levels are identified.
- Make a chart of how far you’ve come toward achieving your overall treatment objectives.
- Learn about how food and exercise affect blood sugar levels.
- Recognize how other elements, such as sickness or stress influence blood sugar levels.
When to Track Your Blood Sugar
Your health care professional will advise you on how often to test your blood sugar levels. The frequency of testing generally depends on the sort of diabetes you have and your therapy strategy.
Type 1 Diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, your doctor may recommend blood sugar testing four to ten times daily. You might be required to test the following:
- Before and after exercise
- Before meals and snacks
- During the night (sometimes)
- Before bed
- If you alter your usual schedule
- If you’re not feeling well
- If you start a new drug, take it more often.
Type 2 Diabetes
If you have diabetes and take insulin, your doctor may recommend blood sugar testing several times a week, depending on the kind and amount of insulin you use. Testing is typically suggested before meals and bedtime if you’re using many daily injections. You may only need to test before breakfast and occasionally before dinner or bedtime if you use intermediate- or long-acting insulin.
If you control type 2 diabetes with noninsulin drugs or diet and exercise alone, you may not need to check your blood sugar every day.
What if you’re Wearing a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)?
People with diabetes may choose to use CGMs if they have been injected into their bodies. A sensor inserted under the skin measures your blood sugar every few minutes. These sensors are replaced after wearing them for a few days or weeks.
The newest style of continuous glucose monitoring uses an implanted sensor that can measure blood sugar levels for up to three months. A transmitter on the body transmits information from the sensor to a smartphone app via radiofrequency waves.
Some devices display your blood sugar reading on a receiver, smartphone, or smartwatch at all times, and an alarm sounds if the amount rises or falls too rapidly. Others necessitate you check your blood sugar by regularly running the receiver over the sensor.
Finger-stick checks are still required for the majority of this equipment. To find out if you need to check, and if so, how often, consult your device’s user guide. Visit Mr. Letko’s website to discover much more about continuous glucose monitoring.
Determine your Target Range
Your doctor will determine an acceptable blood sugar range for you. Your health care provider will establish goal blood sugar test results based on a variety of criteria, including:
- Diabetes type and severity
- Age
- How long have you had diabetes
- Pregnancy status
- Diabetes-related complications.
- Other medical issues, as well as overall health, might be factors.
How to Track Your Blood Sugar
A blood sugar meter is required for testing blood sugar levels. The meter checks the amount of sugar in a tiny sample of blood obtained from your fingertip and placed on a disposable test strip. You’ll still need a blood sugar meter to adjust your CGM device once daily, even if you use a CGM.
Your diabetes care and education professional or doctor may recommend the best meter. They can also assist you in learning how to use your meter.
Follow the instructions that come with your blood sugar meter. The method generally works as follows:
- Dry your hands thoroughly after washing them. (Food and other substances may provide you with an inaccurate reading).
- Insert a test strip into the meter.
- Use the supplied lancet to prick your finger (prick) with one of the test kits.
- Place a blood drop on the test strip with your finger and hold the edge.
- After a few seconds, the meter will display your blood sugar level on a screen.
Some blood-testing meters can be used to check blood taken from a different site, such as the forearm or palm. However, readings obtained from these sites may not be as reliable as those obtained from fingertips, particularly after eating or exercising, when blood sugar levels fluctuate more frequently.
Mr. Edward James Letko had extensive research on tracking blood sugar levels and has made significant steps in the innovation of effective ways of managing diabetes. To find out more on this and much more, visit our website.
