When you have diabetes, your body's mechanism for moving glucose from the blood and into the cells that need it is impaired. This can be due to either a reduction in the insulin you produce or a resistance to insulin. After you eat, your glucose is elevated; as a response, a healthy body releases insulin into the bloodstream, which aids in the movement of glucose into cells. A buildup of blood glucose can, over time, lead to chronic disease. This is why it is increasingly important to check your blood glucose levels if you are a diabetic.
Ideal Readings
Checking your blood glucose with a glucometer gives you a fast and accurate reading of your blood glucose. Get into the habit of checking your preprandial, or fasting glucose, and postprandial, or after eating glucose. Your preprandial glucose levels should be between 70 and 130mg/dL. About an hour or two after eating, your blood glucose should be no higher than 180mg/dL.
Significance
A diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes means that it is time for you to take the initiative to monitor your glucose levels. Chronic high blood glucose causes a myriad of diseases that affect several body parts, from your eyes to your toes. There is no other way to examine how your body is reacting to the food you eat and the activity you do without checking your blood glucose. Checking your glucose before and after eating allows you to alter your carbohydrate intake to gain more control over your blood glucose levels.
How To Check
To measure your blood glucose levels you need to own a glucometer, testing strips, alcohol pads and lancets. Start by washing your hands, then clean the area that you plan on pricking with an alcohol pad. Insert a testing strip into your glucometer and wait for it to recognize it is there. Prick yourself with the lancet and collect the blood on the glucose testing strip. Wait for your glucometer to give you the results, which should take no longer than just a few seconds.
Considerations
When you monitor your pre- and postprandial blood glucose, keep a record of your results. If your readings are chronically high, this is an indication that something should be changed. Consult with your doctor or a dietitian to come up with a new game plan for your diet and activity.
