The Importance of Monitoring your blood-glucose at Home

If you have diabetes, self-testing your blood sugar (blood glucose) can be an important tool in managing your diabetes and preventing complications. You can test your blood sugar at home with a portable electronic device called a blood sugar meter using a small drop of your blood. You can also use a device called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Self testing blood glucose meters doesn’t only help you monitor the effect of diabetes medication on blood sugar level, identify blood sugar levels that are high or low, track your progress in reaching your overall treatment goals, but it also helps you learn how diet and exercise affect blood sugar levels.

The frequency of testing usually depends on the type of diabetes you have and your treatment plan. For type 1 diabetes blood sugar testing is recommended from 4 to 10 times a day, in correlation with daily activities (meals, snacks, exercise, sleeping, ..)

f you take insulin to manage type 2 diabetes, your doctor may recommend blood sugar testing several times a day, depending on the type and amount of insulin you use. Testing is usually recommended before meals and at bedtime if you’re taking multiple daily injections. You may need to test only before breakfast and dinner if you use just an intermediate- or a long-acting insulin.

If you manage type 2 diabetes with noninsulin medications or with diet and exercise alone, you may not need to test your blood sugar daily.

Self-testing your levels of blood glucose must be a commitment you make to yourself, first and foremost. Without a shadow of a doubt, your doctor and pharmacist will be happy to see you being so thorough, but only you, in the end, will enjoy the benefits.

Hence a diabetic person should far and foremost choose a blood-glucose meter that he/she like, that meets their lifestyle needs and that is easy to use. Because they’ll have to test their sugar levels several times a day or week, get the least bothersome device you can find.

Neglect and carelessness regarding blood glucose can lead to hyperglycemia which can cause significant damage to some organs, which then leads to complications of diabetes. These include:

  • cardiac or vascular event, such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke;
  • kidney problems that may require dialysis;
  • eye problems, which may lead to loss of vision (blindness);
  • sexual issues, such as erectile dysfunction;
  • problems with circulation and scarring, which can lead to amputation.

Reference: The importance of monitoring blood-glucose levels, Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how.

[launchpad_feedback]

Scroll to Top