Blood Glucose Monitoring

Navigating the Diabetic Highways: Blood Glucose Monitoring

We have all heard the phrase, “What goes up, will come down.” This is true in the daily life of diabetics as well. No matter how closely you watch what you eat, how often you exercise, or whether you use insulin, it is still vital that you perform frequent blood glucose checks. Diabetes blood glucose monitoring helps you know when your levels are above or below your ideal level so you can make an informed decision about how little or how much you need to adapt your food intake, physical activity, and , if used, your insulin medication. Blood glucose monitoring puts you in the driver’s seat by allowing you to make informed decisions about your daily diabetes choices.

 Blood Glucose Monitoring Choices

Just as you would not take an extended road trip without first checking your vehicle’s tires, water, oil and other assorted gauges, it is foolhardy to think you can go several days without blood glucose monitoring. Think of your diabetes blood glucose monitoring as your GPS, as it tells you the way to navigate the twist and turns of the diabetic roadway. Several times a day, it is necessary to do blood glucose monitoring so that you are aware of how your body reacts to food, exercise, stress, and sickness and, when necessary, take the steps needed to keep it into target range. Although adjusting to the results of blood glucose monitoring may seem a bit like trial and error, you can ultimately get an understanding of your needs and have better control.

The greatest benefit of diabetes blood glucose monitoring is the control you have over your day to day choices. Studies have shown that the tighter control you have over your blood glucose levels, the healthier you will be. When you allow your levels to stay high, then you are at much greater risk for diabetic complications like heart disease, kidney problems, neuropathy, hypertension or vision problem. Frequent blood glucose monitoring lets you know when you are at risk.

How Frequently Should I Monitor my Blood Glucose?

Diabetes blood glucose monitoring should be done often—a minimum of 4 times a day. Monitoring should be done more frequently if you have begun a new medicine or a lifestyle change is made. Should you have a blood glucose meter that stores recent test results, then be sure to note any highs and lows; if your meter does not save your levels, then be sure you are recording your levels in your logbook for diabetes. Blood glucose monitoring allows you to aggressively control your diabetes which means you will have more pleasurable experiences as you travel down the high of life. So take the time to do daily blood glucose monitoring, because the more you know about your blood glucose, the more exciting your journey will be.

Diabetic Seniors Team

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