Living with diabetes is not easy. Diabetes is a progressive, life-long chronic illness that has no cure. This disease, if not controlled, can become life-threatening as well. Therefore, a person diagnosed with type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, or even prediabetes must do regular blood glucose monitoring. This type of testing tells you the level of blood sugar (glucose) in your blood. Testing can be done conveniently anywhere and anytime if we are self-monitoring. In addition, choosing to consult a medical practitioner is a sound option as well. Regardless of your choice, the sugar level in your blood must stay in a healthy range. In this article, we will demonstrate the role of blood glucose monitoring, how and when to check your glucose level, and the proper guidelines associated with blood glucose monitoring.
The Role of Blood Glucose Monitoring in Diabetes Control
Regular blood glucose monitoring indicates how well your medication, diet, fitness activities, and other features of diabetes control are working to manage your diabetes. Failure to monitor blood sugar levels might result in hyperglycaemia (high sugar level) or hypoglycaemia (low sugar level). This may further lead to potentially high-risk health complications. The role of blood glucose monitoring is pivotal, despite which type of diabetes you have. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, and patients have to manage it for the rest of their lives. They can do this by strictly and regularly monitoring their sugar levels along with taking supplemental insulin. In such a case, the pancreas does not produce insulin to keep the glucose level in check. It means type 1 diabetics have to monitor their blood glucose level several times a day. While on the contrary, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas secretes very little insulin-making our body insulin-sensitive resulting in glucose accumulation. Therefore, glucose monitoring is critical in this scenario too. Gestational diabetics are advised to closely monitor their sugar levels as high and low sugar levels could lead to complications during pregnancy and delivery.
Monitoring your blood sugar level has become easy thanks to glucometers. Self- Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is a procedure where we use such glycaemic readers to measure our glycemia or glucose levels. Using a glucometer to self-check sugar levels is relatively convenient than going to a medical practitioner. A glucometer measures the level of sugar in a sample of blood, typically taken from your fingertip. Your doctor will help you to determine the time and frequency of blood testing suitable for your needs. However, continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) can be more beneficial if you have type 1 diabetes and need to check your glucose levels frequently. This type of glucometer stays attached to your body for some time, decreasing the need for numerous finger pricks in a single day. It remains fixed on your abdomen or upper arm and will provide readings at predetermined intervals.
For safe and easy testing using glucometers, follow the guidelines below:
We should undertake some necessary measures for successful monitoring of blood glucose levels. Follow these solid tips to avoid potential problems:
Common Mistakes To Avoid While Testing
Here are a few mistakes you should avoid to ensure accurate reading of your sugar levels:
Conclusion
Self-monitoring your blood glucose levels is not rocket science. It is pretty much straightforward and convenient as well. The glucometers and Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM) are portable and guarantee instant feedback. Jotting down your daily readings or keeping a log is a good idea for you and your doctor to develop an appropriate treatment plan suitable for your needs. Doing so would help determine how your body is responding to your diabetic control plan, which includes your daily diet and physical activities. If your readings turn out to be outside the healthy range, then you need to consult your doctor and determine what went wrong in your plan. The Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is a self-control tool and a vital resource. However, some people might find it stressful and even frustrating, having to prick their fingers several times a day, every single day. You must consider discussing these issues with your doctor to come up with an alternate solution.
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