Diabetic Seniors

When it comes to knowing how high or how low your blood sugar levels are, there is no such thing as having a “sixth sense”. The only way is by frequent daily diabetes blood sugar testing. However, there are other ways you can learn more about your bodies system and the signals it gives that will alert you to blood glucose highs or lows. One such way is by taking classes on hypoglycemia recognition and prevention as well as understanding what the hyperglycemia cues are. When you are able to recognize the signs, you know you need to test your diabetic blood sugar. Once you take such a class, you will see just how important diabetes blood sugar testing is, and will be surprised at how often you thought everything was okay when it really was not.

How Often Should you Perform Diabetic Blood Sugar Testing?

It is up to you and your physician to determine how frequently you should perform diabetes blood sugar testing. If you have Type 1 diabetes, then your levels go up and down throughout the day. If you base the amount of insulin you take on the results of the previous diabetes blood sugar test, then you should check your blood glucose each time you eat a meal/ snack or plan an injection—this will work out to approximately 4 diabetes blood sugar tests per day.

If your goal is merely to avoid hyperglycemia or ketosis, you may only need diabetic blood sugar testing a couple of times each day.

For Type 2 Diabetics, blood sugar testing may not need to be as regular, since levels do not fluctuate as often. However, while your physician(s) is adjusting your insulin, it is necessary to check your blood glucose level more often, to prevent rises and falls. Be sure to do blood sugar testing before bed and before breakfast to see how well your medication works. As a Type 2 Diabetic, blood sugar testing is up to you and how much your lifestyle and budget allows. (The more you test it, the more it cost) However, anytime you feel like something “isn’t right”, it is wise to do blood sugar testing.

Regardless of whether you have Type 1 Diabetes or Type 2 diabetes, testing your blood sugar helps you stay close to the normal blood glucose levels of 80-120 mg/dl before meals and 100 to 140 mg/dl before bedtime. Keep a journal of your blood glucose readings and note when they drop or spike as this will help determine if any changes in medication, diet or level of physical activity need to be adapted.

Constant diabetic blood sugar testing can be aggravating, but it s worth it. Don’t give up!

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