Diabetic Seniors

To control your diabetes, there’s one number you absolutely have to know – your blood sugar reading.

Taking your blood sugar reading informs you if your blood sugar is too high, too low or just right.

There are two common tests to perform blood sugar reading — daily finger-stick tests and the hemoglobin A1c test. Together, these two tests provide a true picture of your blood sugar control.

Finger-Stick Testing —  A finger-stick test is a simple test you can do using a blood glucose (sugar) meter to check changes in your blood glucose (sugar). The finger-stick test tells you what your blood glucose is at the time you test. You’ll need to work with your doctor to develop the goals that are best for you.
Hemoglobin A1c Test — The hemoglobin A1c test is a simple lab test that shows the average amount of glucose (sugar) that has been in your blood over the last 2-3 months. Your health care provider does the test by taking a small sample of your blood and sending it to a lab, or this test can be conducted at your home and mailed to a certified laboratory for processing. The hemoglobin A1c test shows if your blood glucose is close to normal or too high.

Record your Blood Sugar Readings

Record the results of both your finger-stick tests and your hemoglobin A1c test and use your blood sugar reading to decide how to manage your diabetes day-by-day. Also make a note of any factors that impacted your blood sugar readings — e.g., you felt sick, you were tired or stressed, what kind of exercise you did and whether you ate more or less than you usually do.

Source:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Glucose Meters & Diabetes Management
National Diabetes Education Program
The American Diabetes Association

Tags: blood glucose monitoring, blood glucose testing, blood sugar reading, monitoring diabetes