A crucial gauge used to assess your diabetes treatment is the self-monitoring of blood glucose. This home test calculates the quantity of glucose in a tiny sample of your blood. Glucose, the primary energy source for your blood cells, is derived from the carbohydrates in your diet. Your physician determines a target level for your blood sugar results based on factors such as medications, exercise, dietary intake, health status and daily routine.
Considerations
Three elements regulate blood testing frequency: your form of diabetes, your therapy plan and present blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetics are insulin dependent requiring insulin to regulate blood glucose and type 2 diabetics are non-insulin dependent and can be glucose regulated by diet, exercise and occasionally insulin. Your therapy plan might require frequent testing, if your blood sugar is not within the target level and less testing when levels reflect glucose control.
Frequency
Your testing times are set by your physician with variables determined by your health, age, diet, activity level, illness and diabetic complications. Initially, your physician instructions can include testing before meals, at bedtime or as needed when you are symptomatic of a low or high blood sugar. Testing can include: before, during and after physical activity, 1 to 2 hours after eating and in the middle of the night to monitor glucose fluctuations.
Significance
Blood glucose monitoring results play an important role in your diabetes care plan. The results can aid in adapting your diabetes medications for better glucose control, dietary management of carbohydrate intake and in learning the manner in which food and activities influence your blood sugar. As you reach your blood sugar target goals less monitoring is required with more freedom, independence and control of your disease for you.
Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia
Two important occasions or times when blood sugar must be tested occur with symptoms indicating your blood sugar is too high or too low. Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar symptoms include confusion, weakness, sweating, shaking, chills and dizziness. Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, vision problems such as blurring, fatigue and sleepiness. Remember to check your blood sugar and follow your physician's instructions to treat these symptoms.
Additional Times
You might need to add additional blood sugar monitoring times when your diabetes medications are increased or decreased. Other occasions include when prescription medications are added to treat new or pre-existing disorders or conditions, when activity levels change, with illness, injury or surgery, weight loss, dietary changes or with an increase in your stress level.
Maintaining Records
It is important for your physician to see the day-to-day blood glucose testing results. Maintain a logbook that includes the time and date of the test, the activity, meal or symptom that prompted the test and your response if a snack or insulin is required to treat the test result. The logbook is an excellent tool to learn about your disease and aids your physician in monitoring, adjusting and planning your treatment.
