What is Blood Glucose?
Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is the main sugar circulating in the blood and the body's main source of energy. It comes from the carbohydrates we eat and is essential for normal functioning of the body's cells and tissues. However, keeping blood glucose levels within a normal range is important for health.
Why Monitor Blood Glucose Levels?
For people with diabetes, frequent Blood Glucose Monitoring monitoring is crucial for diabetes management and health. It helps track how food, medication, exercise and stress impact blood sugar levels. This allows better treatment decisions to keep blood glucose in target range and reduce risks of both short-term complications like low blood sugar reactions and long-term issues. Monitoring also allows early detection of changes that require adjustments in medications, diet or lifestyle.
For those at high risk of developing diabetes due to prediabetes, monitoring can help track progress of lifestyle modifications and use of medications to prevent or delay onset of full-blown diabetes. It shows if efforts to improve diet, increase physical activity and lose excess weight are really lowering elevated blood glucose levels into normal range.
What are the Different Types of Blood Glucose Monitors?
There are different types of devices available for monitoring blood glucose levels:
- Fingerprick Methods: Requires obtaining a small blood sample from the sides of fingers using a lancet. Drop of blood is placed on a disposable test strip which is inserted into a blood glucose meter to display the reading. Still the most common method.
- Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs): A small sensor wire is inserted under the skin to continuously monitor interstitial fluid glucose levels. Data is wirelessly transmitted to a receiver/monitor device for real-time readings without finger pricking. Some advanced models can even alert lows and trends.
- Non-Invasive Monitors: Avoids drawing blood by measuring physical properties like infrared light passing through skin to estimate glucose levels. Technology still in development stage and not as accurate as invasive methods.
- Urine Test Strips: Checks glucose levels from urine samples. Not frequently used anymore due to delay in reflecting changing blood glucose levels.
How Often Should Blood Glucose Be Monitored?
The recommended frequency of self-monitoring depends on the individual's diabetes treatment plan, medication regimen, lifestyle, activities and whether any health issues are present. Here are some general guidelines:
- Type 1 Diabetes: Minimum of 3 times a day usually before meals. More frequent if using insulin pump therapy or experiencing fluctuating levels.
- Type 2 Diabetes on Oral Medications: Testing 1-2 times daily usually before breakfast and dinner.
- Type 2 Diabetes Managed with Diet Only: Less frequent testing few times a week may suffice.
- Sick Days, Stress, Medication Changes: More often monitoring needed during illness or whenever levels seem unstable.
- Pregnancy: Checking blood glucose 4 or more times daily essential for managing diabetes and baby's health.
- Newly Diagnosed: Frequently measuring aids establishing baseline and getting levels controlled.
So in summary, guided self-monitoring is an invaluable diabetes self-management skill that must be tailored according to individual needs for achieving treatment targets safely.
Understanding Blood Glucose Readings
Blood glucose meters display results as milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Here are the general healthy ranges:
- Fasting (no food for 8 hours) or Before Meal: 70-130 mg/dL or 3.9-7.2 mmol/L
- 1-2 Hours After Meals: Less than 180 mg/dL or 10 mmol/L
- Average Over Time: A1C less than 7% for non-pregnant adults
Readings outside these targets require attention and possible actions like extra insulin, careful carbohydrate counting or follow up with your healthcare provider.
Low blood glucose or hypoglycemia is considered below 70 mg/dL. Severe low is less than 54 mg/dL. This requires immediate treatment with fast-acting carbs. High blood glucose or hyperglycemia starts at 180 mg/dL and over. Persistently high levels increase longer term health risks.
Proper technique, good meter maintenance and documentation of readings are needed for accurate results and effective self-management of diabetes. Remember - knowledge is power, so learn your numbers well!
Tips for Accurate Blood Glucose Monitoring
Here are some best practices to consider for obtaining precise and helpful blood glucose readings:
- Wash and dry hands thoroughly before testing to avoid incorrect readings from dirt, oils or lotion residue.
- Only use test strips, lancets and meters made specifically for your monitor brand for guaranteed performance.
- Rotate testing sites on fingers and hands to prevent soreness from repeated lancing in same spots.
- Check expiration dates on all supplies and dispose properly once expired. Storage conditions can affect accuracy.
- Calibrate meter as directed by the instructions and never skip this step. Have meter checked with a lab equipment annually.
- Record time, food intake, medications, activity and results in a logbook along with any symptoms during highs or lows.
- Considerations like hydration levels, altitude and illness also impact results - annotate these as needed.
- Test early signs of highs and lows before dismissing them to ensure safety.
- Compare meter readings to lab A1C every 3 months for best confidence in home results. Adjust as needed to maintain correlation.
Following proven glucose monitoring practices empowers self-care and helps partners in diabetes management make wise daily choices. Staying compliant allows for improved health outcomes.
To wrap up, systematic blood glucose monitoring stays a crucial component of living well with diabetes. It facilitates informed self-care decisions for preventing both short and long term diabetes complications. Advancements in monitoring technology now allow for minimally invasive or continuous options beyond the traditional fingerstick options. Taking full advantage along with proper testing routines results in achieving best possible diabetes control through awareness of individual blood sugar trends and reactions to various body, food and activities. Paired with competent care team guidance, monitoring data can transform diabetes experience towards lowest risks for all ages. Empower yourself with this vital diabetes self-management skill for a lifetime of optimal health.
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Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)