Improve Your Blood Glucose Management
Chart Your Blood Sugar Levels
Written by Kristeen Cherney | Published on July 31, 2014
Medically Reviewed by George T. Krucik, MD, MBA on July 31, 2014
- Charting Glucose
- Tracking and Charting Glucose Levels
- Ideal Results
- Finding the Best Solution for You
Charting Glucose
Blood sugar (glucose) is a substance in the blood that helps transport energy throughout the body. Diabetes results when blood sugar levels are too high. This is often referred to as hyperglycemia. Checking your blood sugar on a regular basis is crucial to diabetes management, including before and after meals. It can be difficult to catch patterns in sugar fluctuations if you don’t keep track of your levels. A blood sugar levels chart can help you keep track and lead to more effective diabetes management. It’s also important to discuss charting options with your doctor.
Tracking and Charting Glucose Levels
Checking your blood sugar is just one step in glucose management. You should also track and record your readings multiple times a day on a regular basis. In this sense, you can produce your own health records that can complement tests performed by your doctor.
Consistency is the key when charting glucose levels. Aside from meals, it’s also helpful to make note of other factors that may affect your blood sugar. There are other considerations that can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels besides food and medicine. Factors that affect levels may include:
- changes in activity levels
- weather changes
- minor illnesses
- infections
- taking medicine at different times than you’re used to
- dirty meters
Blood Sugar Levels Chart
Ideal Results
Ideal blood sugar levels can vary, especially if you are pregnant or have any underlying health conditions. Call your doctor if you’re unsure of what your levels should be. The American Diabetes Association recommends the following target ranges for most adults:
- between 70 and 130 mg/dl before meals
- below 180 mg/dl within two hours after eating
- general reading of A1C at 7 percent
- fasting reading of eAG at 154 mg/dl
The American Diabetes Association has an online calculator that can help you convert A1C to eAG (and vice versa).
Anything above 180 mg/dl is considered dangerously high. Levels that fall below 50 mg/dl are dangerously low. According to the Mayo Clinic, a normal fasting reading in an adult without diabetes is between 70 and 100 mg/dl. Your target levels might be higher if you have hypoglycemic unawareness. This means that you are prone to low blood sugar but don’t notice any warning symptoms.
The purpose of measuring blood glucose is to help prevent hypo- and hyperglycemia. Glucose readings can also help you determine if you need medicine or not, especially if you’re not taking insulin on a regular basis. If your levels are consistently low or high, you should discuss changing treatment plans with your doctor right away.
Finding the Best Solution for You
A handwritten chart is just one of the effective ways you can track your blood sugar levels. You can store the chart on your computer or tablet and type in the results as they come up. Other charts are available in the form of mobile apps.
Skipping readings can derail the benefits of the chart. It’s a good idea to set alarms for when you need to check your blood sugar, especially if you don’t always measure glucose before and after meals.
Just as diabetes treatment continues to evolve, there are numerous options to help patients keep tabs on their health. A blood sugar levels chart is an invaluable resource to ensure your diabetes care needs are adequately met.
All about the Hemoglobin A1C Test
Written by Erica Manfred
Medically Reviewed by Jason Baker. MD on June 17, 2014
Diabetics used to depend only on urine tests or daily finger sticks to measure their blood sugars. These tests were accurate, but only in the moment. As an overall measurement of blood sugar control, they were very limited, as blood sugar can vary wildly depending on the time of day, activity levels, even hormone changes. Some people may have high blood sugars at 3 a.m. and be totally unaware of it.
Once A1C tests became available in the 1980s, they became an important tool in controlling diabetes. A1C tests measure average blood glucose over the past two to three months. So even if you have a high fasting blood sugar, your overall blood sugars may be normal, or vice versa. A normal fasting blood sugar may not eliminate the possibility of type 2 diabetes. This is why A1C tests are now being used for diagnosis and screening of prediabetes. Because they don’t require fasting, the test can be given as part of an overall blood screening.
What exactly does A1C measure?
A1C measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood that has glucose attached to it. Hemoglobin is a protein found inside red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body. Hemoglobin cells are constantly dying and regenerating, but they have a lifespan of approximately three months. Glucose attaches (glycates) to hemoglobin, so the record of how much glucose is attached to your hemoglobin also lasts for about three months. If there is too much glucose attached to the hemoglobin cells, you will have a high A1C. If the amount of glucose is normal, your A1C will be normal.
The reason that the test is effective is the lifespan of the hemoglobin cells. Let’s say your blood glucose was high last week or last month, but is normal now. Your hemoglobin will carry a “record” of last week’s high blood glucose in the form of more A1C in your blood. The glucose that was attached to the hemoglobin during the past three months will still be recorded by the test, as the cells live approximately three months. The A1C test provides an average of your blood sugar readings for the past three months. It’s not accurate for any given day, but it gives the doctor a good idea of how effective your blood sugar control has been over time.
What do the numbers mean?
Someone who is not diabetic will have about five percent of their hemoglobin glycated. This means that if your A1C is below 5.7, you don’t have to worry. A normal A1C level is below 5.7 percent; 6.5 percent or above indicates diabetes; 5.7 to 6.4 percent is prediabetes. To monitor your overall glucose control, diabetics should have an A1C at least twice a year.
Anyone who has had diabetes for any length of time knows that A1C tests haven’t been reliable until recently. In the past, many different types of A1C tests gave different results depending on the lab that analyzed them. However, accuracy has been improved by the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program. Manufacturers of A1C tests now have to prove that their tests are consistent with those used in a major diabetes study. Even more recently, accurate home test kits have become available for purchase.
Accuracy is relative, however, when it comes to A1C or even blood glucose tests. The A1C test result can be up to half a percent higher or lower than the actual percentage. That means if your A1C is 6, it might indicate a range from 5.5 to 6.5. Some people may have a blood glucose test that indicates diabetes, while their A1C is normal, or vice versa. Before making a diagnosis of diabetes, your doctor should repeat the tests.
Some people may even get false results if they’re severely anemic, are in kidney failure, or have liver disease. Ethnic origin can also influence the test. People of African, Mediterranean, or Southeast Asian descent may have a less common type of hemoglobin that can interfere with some A1C tests.
What to do if your A1C number is high
If you’re in the early stages of the disease, small changes in lifestyle can make a big difference and even reverse diabetic results. Losing a few pounds or starting an exercise program can move you into the non-diabetic camp.
For those who have had prediabetes or diabetes for a long time, A1C results that are moving upward is a sign that you need to start on medication or change what you are already taking. You may also need to make other lifestyle changes and monitor your daily blood glucose more closely.
Advances in Glucose Monitoring
Written by Kimberly Holland
Medically Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, RD, CDE on April 15, 2014
Alternative Site Testing
Some glucose meters are designed to test blood from alternative sites on your body, such as the upper arm, thigh, calf, forearm, or base of the thumb. Drawing blood from these alternative sites may be desirable, especially for people who have chronic soreness or finger pain as a result of frequent pricking.
However, testing from these sites has limitations. Blood in the fingertips shows changes in blood glucose more accurately and faster than blood in other parts of the body. That means the readings from alternative site testing may be different (and therefore less reliable) than readings taken from the fingertip. Though promising, further research is needed to better understand the value of the different readings and implications they may have on the health of people with diabetes.
Skin Testing
Worn on the arm like a wristwatch, this device uses electric currents to repeatedly pull tiny amounts of fluid from the skin to a sensor pad where the glucose in the fluid is measured. (It does not actually puncture the skin.) If your blood sugar level dips too far or becomes too high, it sounds an alarm. It is not effective if worn while you are sweating, and it may cause possible skin irritation. Skin irritation has been such an issue that no models are currently in use. New models are on the horizon and may be available in the near future.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Continuous glucose monitors allow you to record your blood sugar levels through the day in real time. They can tell you which direction your glucose is going with an alarm to alert you if you are trending too far down or up, so you can take action as needed.
This technique uses a small plastic catheter placed just under the skin to measure blood sugar levels. This catheter is connected to a transmitter, which transmits each reading to a small recording device worn on the body. You change the sensor every three to seven days, depending on the meter. Also, you still have to test your glucose with a finger stick twice a day to calibrate the continuous glucose meter.
Consider the following when choosing a continuous glucose meter:
- how frequently you have to change the sensor
- the range of the transmitter (how far away you can be before you lose the connection to the receiver)
- whether the continuous meter can work wirelessly with your glucose meter so that the continuous meter is automatically calibrated when you do your finger stick test
- whether your meter works directly with an insulin pump (if this is a feature you want)
- whether it is approved for children (if you are getting the meter for your child)
Infrared Spectroscopy
Although infrared spectroscopy is still in development, researchers believe this technology will allow for testing without drawing blood in the future. This test is performed by shining a beam of light on the skin. The light penetrates the skin and measures blood sugar levels. Variations in blood pressure, body temperature, and room conditions can affect the accuracy of infrared spectroscopy. Therefore, it may be important to perform a traditional blood sugar test periodically to confirm the infrared monitor’s readings.
Choosing a Glucose Meter
Written by Kimberly Holland
Medically Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, RD, CDE on April 16, 2014
- Choosing a Glucose Meter
- Factors That Can Affect Glucose Readings
- Making Sure Your Glucose Meter Works Properly
Blood glucose meters are small, computerized devices that measure and display your blood glucose level. Monitoring your blood glucose levels provides valuable information to you and your doctors about how food, exercise, medications, stress, and other factors affect your blood glucose. This information will help you and your doctor better construct a treatment plan.
Many types of blood glucose meters are available for at-home use, from basic models that only read the blood glucose, to more-advanced versions that offer features such as memory for storing information. The costs of blood glucose meters and testing supplies vary, and insurance may not always provide coverage. Study all the options before picking out a meter. Consider up-front costs (what the meter will cost you to purchase) and long-term costs (how expensive the testing strips and other supplies are). Then, work with your doctor and learn to properly use your meter.
Choosing a Glucose Meter
Whether this is your first blood glucose meter or you’re looking for an upgrade from one you’ve been using for several years, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you begin looking.
Does your doctor or nurse educator suggest a specific meter?
He or she likely has a wealth of experience with an array of meters and can guide you in a good direction.
What does your insurance cover?
Your insurance company may have a list of pre-approved meters it will cover. Also, make sure to find out if and how your insurance will cover the cost of testing strips and supplies.
How much will this meter cost you?
Some meters can be costly, and insurance companies don’t always make allowances for pricier options. You will have to pay any amount that exceeds the company’s coverage. Also, test strips are sold separately from meters and can be pricey—insurance companies sometimes set a cap on how many they will pay for in a year.
How easily can you use this meter?
Testing procedures vary for each meter—some require more work than others. How much blood does the test strip require? Can you see the numbers on the screen easily?
How long does it take to get a reading?
Your time is valuable, and while a few seconds may seem inconsequential, that amount of time can add up when you’re testing several times a day.
Is the meter easily maintained?
Is it simple to clean? Can you calibrate it (set it correctly for each new batch of strips) quickly and easily?
Can the device store your readings?
Because tracking your numbers is vital to long-term care, keeping a record is very important. If you’re comfortable with writing down your numbers in a notebook or paper journal, you may want a more streamlined machine that only reads, not records, readings. However, if you know you’ll be on the go and have a hard time keeping track of a journal, look for a meter that has memory options. Some meters create logs you can then retrieve and journal at a later time. Even more advanced, some meters create a downloadable file that syncs with your computer and can be emailed to your doctor or nurse educator.
Do you want any special features?
If you know you’ll be carrying this meter with you a lot, you may want a more compact option. If you have a hard time holding on to smaller models, you may prefer one of the larger meters with easier-to-use strips. People with impaired vision may prefer to use a meter that has an easy-to-read screen. Colorful options are available for children, as are models with backlighting on the screen, which makes reading at night easier. Other special features include:
- audio capability, for people with vision impairments
- backlit screens to aid low-light visibility
- various memory amounts to store your readings
- different handling capabilities, such as having the strips store in the meter, or having a USB meter
Factors That Can Affect Glucose Readings
The accuracy of test results depends on a number of issues, including the quality of your meter and test strips and how well you’ve been trained to operate the machine. Here are other factors that can affect your glucose readings:
User Technique
User-error is still the number one reason for errors in testing. Be sure to review how to use your meter and test your blood glucose with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Dirty Testing Site
Food, drink or lotion residue left on your hands can affect your blood glucose reading, so be sure to wash and dry your hands before you test. If you use an alcohol swab, be sure to let the site dry completely before testing.
Environment
Altitude, humidity, and room temperature can all affect your glucose results by affecting your body or the strips you use. Some meters will come with instructions on how to get proper readings in these particular situations.
Incompatible Test Strips
Testing strips can be pricey, so you may be tempted to try third-party or generic strips in order to save money. However, your meter is not designed to use these strips, so your reading may be affected. Be sure the alternative test strips you are purchasing are compatible with your machine.
Changes in Meters or Strips
Manufacturers may make changes to their machines or test strips, and third-party or generic strip manufacturers are not always made aware when this happens. In that event, the testing strips may become incompatible with your meter. If you are unsure whether or not a particular testing strip will work with your meter, call the manufacturer of your blood glucose meter.
Making Sure Your Glucose Meter Works Properly
To ensure accurate readings, carefully read the instructions provided by the manufacturer. (The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that blood glucose meter manufacturers provide detailed instructions in the machine’s packaging.) If you have any questions, look for a support hotline and call the manufacturer. It’s also a good idea to take your meter to your doctor or healthcare team and have them go over basics of the machine with you. While you’re there, check to see how your machine’s results compare with the machine at your doctor’s office. This will help you see if your machine is correctly calibrated.
Diabetes Contact Lenses
Written by Kimberly Holland | Published on January 13, 2012
Medically Reviewed by George Krucik, MD
For diabetics who must check their blood glucose levels regularly, testing can be a nuisance. Between carrying testing equipment, pricking your fingers, and dealing with the sometimes-painful effects of frequent testing, checking your blood glucose level consumes a lot of time. That’s why doctors and diabetic researchers have been working to develop easier, less-invasive testing methods. One of these new methods are contact lenses that help you see more clearly—and monitor your glucose levels.
Although currently unavailable on the open market, researchers are working on creating a version of these lenses that could be mass-produced and sold to diabetes patients everywhere.
There are two types: boronic acid-based lenses and photonic crystals-based lenses. Here’s how they work:
Boronic Acid Contact Lenses
Researchers have developed a form of boronic acid—an acid that is uniquely capable of binding with sugar molecules—which can help measure glucose levels in the fluid of your eyes.
Fluid from the tear ducts contains glucose; molecules in the boronic acid bind with the molecules of sugar in the fluid. The result is fluorescence, which will glow when light from a special hand-held blue light is shown on the eyes. The intensity of the glow lets the wearer measure their blood glucose level. The brighter the fluorescence, the higher the glucose.
Photonic Crystals Contacts
Researchers have also developed contacts using photonic crystals that detect and respond to changes in glucose. Any swings in blood glucose levels are reflected by a change of color in the contacts.
Photonic crystals are made of a combination of boronic acid and other chemicals. These chemicals form long polymer chains, which contain receptors that bind to the structure of glucose. When these chains come into contact with glucose (which is in the fluid of your eye), the spacing and volume are affected, changing how light passes through the material of the contacts. When your glucose is high and the level of glucose in your tears is more concentrated, the polymer chains in your contacts will produce a purple color. When your glucose is low, the lenses will reflect a reddish color. Normal glucose would produce a green color.
These changes in color are on the bottom edge of the lens—in other words, they don’t actually affect the color of your eyes. You would have to look into a mirror and look closely at the lens to see what color is reflected and read your glucose level.
Complications With the Contacts
Unlike the blood in your hands, the tears from your tear ducts do not reflect glucose levels quickly. It takes about 30 minutes for glucose levels in the tears to reach the level in the blood. However, for most people who do pricks every three to four hours, this should not be a problem as the numbers will be close to equal by the time you would be prepared to test again.
Blood Glucose Management: Checking for Ketones
Written by Kimberly Holland
Medically Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, RD, CDE on April 16, 2014
- What Are Ketones?
- Are Ketones a Sign of a Problem?
- How Do You Test for Ketones?
- When Should You Test?
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis
What Are Ketones?
Ketone bodies are acids made when your body begins using fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. When there is not enough insulin to get sugar from the blood and into the cells, the body turns to fat for energy. When fat is broken down, ketone bodies are made and can accumulate in the body. High levels of ketones are toxic to the body. The condition is called ketoacidosis.
Ketones are most likely to show up when there is not enough insulin in the body. This can happen if people who have type 1 diabetes don’t take insulin or don’t take enough to meet higher demands, such as during illness or stress, or when a pump gets clogged or unattached. It can also happen in people with type 2 diabetes who are insulin-deficient if they get sick.
You may have ketone bodies without having ketoacidosis if your diet is very low in carbohydrates or very low in calories and nutrients.
Are Ketones a Sign of a Problem?
If your blood glucose is within a safe range and you are losing weight, the presence of ketones may be perfectly normal. However, if you have diabetes, it’s important that you keep a watchful eye on both your ketones and your blood glucose even as you lose weight.
Trace amounts of ketones may mean that your body is in the beginning stages of building up stores. In that case, test again in several hours to see if the amount changes. If it goes up, make an appointment to see your doctor.
Moderate to large ketone numbers may mean your diabetes is out of control. As part of your diabetes-management program, you and your healthcare provider should develop a plan for what to do if your ketone levels are high. But if you don’t have such a plan, be sure to contact your doctor immediately. High ketone levels can be a sign of a potentially dangerous situation. Ketones alter the chemical balance of your blood. If left undiagnosed and untreated, they can poison the body.
How Do You Test for Ketones?
A urine test is the recommended way to test for ketones.
If you are conducting an at-home test and begin noticing ketones, contact your healthcare provider. The presence, not just the level of ketones, may be important.
When Should You Test?
Your doctor or healthcare provider will likely help you understand when it’s important to check for ketones, basing recommendations on your health history. Typically, it is suggested that you test for ketones whenever:
- your blood glucose number goes over 300
- your skin is flushed or loses color
- you experience vomiting, nausea, or abdominal pain
- you are sick—illness, infections, and injuries can cause sudden high blood glucose
- you feel lethargic (have very little energy) and/or confused
- you experience dry mouth or are thirstier than usual
- you have a difficult time breathing
- your breath smells “fruity”
Pregnant women may be told to test each morning before breakfast and/or any time the blood glucose reading goes above 200.
If you experience one or more of these conditions, check your ketone level. Call your doctor if symptoms persist, your ketone levels are above average or high, or you begin having additional problems.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Ketones build up in the blood and urine as fats and are broken down for energy. In high levels, ketones can be very dangerous and even poisonous. This serious condition is known as ketoacidosis and, if left untreated, can lead to diabetic coma or even death. The symptoms of ketoacidosis can be confused with others (such as the flu or a stomach virus), so be sure to talk to your doctor about a plan for when to test for ketones.
Fast-Acting Glucose Meters: Testing for Health and Stability
Written by Brett Huffman | Published on January 18, 2012
- Are Fast-Acting Glucose Meters Right for You?
- Choosing a Fast-Acting Glucose Meters
- Benefits of Fast-Acting Glucose Meters
- Considering the Cost
Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition. Ongoing management is required to keep your blood glucose levels normal and your body healthy. Without proper management, the price of losing control over your diabetes is serious organ damage and even death. The risk is very real and very serious.
The good news is that with today’s modern monitoring tools, testing blood glucose levels has never been easier or gentler. Also, these days, most insurance companies pay for diabetes testing strips, glucose monitors, and even insulin. And if not, there are a plethora of aid agencies to help diabetics pay for their supplies. There’s almost no excuse for letting your diabetes get the best of you.
One of the great medical inventions of recent history is the fast-acting blood glucose test meter now available on the market. Some examples of this kind of meter include the FreeStyle meters, OneTouch Ultra meters, and the Accu-Check meters. These meters are usually the size of a small calculator and can be easily carried (along with testing strips) in a small purse or pack.
Are Fast-Acting Glucose Meters Right for You?
Before you buy a fast-acting glucose meter, it’s important to look at the features you want out of your testing device and how you are dosing insulin. For those with non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes, the testing meter will serve as a situational awareness tool and nothing more. For those dependent on insulin injections or an insulin pump, your test meter is your lifeline to managing your everyday health.
In the early 1990s, testing sometimes took up to two minutes and meters could weigh as much as two pounds. Today’s meters are a few ounces and deliver test readings in five to six seconds. This is especially beneficial for diabetes patients experiencing symptoms of high blood sugar or low blood sugar. Fast acting glucose testing allows faster treatment and better management.
Choosing a Fast-Acting Glucose Meters
When using a glucose meter, you must first calibrate your new box of testing strips to the meter. Since testing strips are created at different factories and at different times, you must calibrate each box for the most accurate test results—even if it is of the same brand as you always use. Usually this is as simple as scanning a code on the box or using a calibration test strip.
Next, consider the reading method of your meter and its data storage ability. Many of the fast acting meters today come with special data storage and tracking applications which allow users to download their glucose level data to their computer. Tracking this data over time is very valuable. You can research which foods work well with your body and help stabilize your blood glucose. You can also research and track how your glucose levels change throughout the day.
Benefits of Fast-Acting Glucose Meters
Fast-acting blood glucose testing uses much less blood to deliver an accurate glucose reading. Older meters required a large drop of blood to give a reading, resulting in painful and unproductive samplings where a diabetes patient would have to draw blood more than once. The extra testing would also waste test strips.
Today’s glucose meters can require as little as 0.3 to 1 ?l of blood—about a tenth of what older meters needed. Most meters today prevent unneeded retesting because most samplings draw enough blood. This saves your time, money, and is very convenient. The current cost of a single strip is anywhere from 35 cents to one dollar. Most companies will send a free meter or two, which can help with the cost of long-term monitoring.
Fast-acting glucose tests can prove very valuable when you are experiencing hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Coupled with fast-acting glucose or an insulin pen, a well-calibrated meter can save you from an unnecessary hospital trip and lost time from work and your personal life. While each diabetic’s goals will vary, a good target glucose level before a meal should be between 70–130 mg/dl (5.0–7.2 mmol/l). After a meal, your glucose level should be less than <180 mg/dl (<10.0 mmol/l).
Considering the Cost
As a diabetic, it’s important to manage your blood glucose everyday. Some patients may consider blood-testing meters to be too expensive, but it is important to remember not to be penny-wise and pound-foolish—in other words, a small investment now can save you thousands of dollars in medical costs down the road. Letting your diabetes go adds to your long-term health costs because the damage from unchecked diabetes can catapult your body into organ failure or even death. Blood meters are the most accurate way to track your disease activity, and spending $30 to $90 a month on testing strips is a small cost when you consider the cost of your life.
Blood Glucose Monitoring: Tips to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Successfully
Written by Kimberly Holland
Medically Reviewed by Peggy Pletcher, MS, RD, LD, CDE on April 16, 2014
- How to Test Your Blood Sugar
- Four Keys to Successful Blood Sugar Monitoring
- Preventing Sore Fingertips
Blood sugar testing is an essential part of treating and controlling diabetes. Knowing your blood sugar levels quickly can help you be aware when your blood sugar level has fallen or risen outside the target range. In some cases, this will help prevent an emergency situation. You’ll also be able to record and track your blood glucose readings over time, monitoring how exercise, food, and medicine affect your levels.
Luckily, testing your blood glucose level can be done just about anywhere and at any time. In as little as a minute or two, you can test your blood and have a reading using an at-home blood sugar meter or blood glucose monitor.
How to Test Your Blood Sugar
Whether you test once a day or several times, following a testing routine will help you prevent infection, return true results, and better monitor your blood sugar. Here’s a step-by-step routine you can follow:
1. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Then dry them well with a clean towel. If you use an alcohol swab, be sure to let the area dry completely before testing.
2. Prepare a clean lancet device—the spring-loaded device that holds the needle (lancet) that you will use to prick the end of your finger—by inserting a clean needle.
3. Remove one test strip from your bottle or box of strips, being sure to close it completely so as to avoid contaminating the other strips with dirt or moisture.
4. All modern meters now have you insert the strip into the meter before you collect blood, so you can add the blood sample to the strip when it is in the meter. (With some older meters, you put the blood on the strip first, and then put the strip in the meter.)
4. Stick the side of your fingertip with the lancet. Some blood sugar machines allow for testing from different sites on your body, such as the arm. Read your device’s manual to make sure you’re drawing blood from the correct place.
5. Collect a drop of blood on the test strip, being sure you have an adequate amount for a reading. Be careful to let only the blood, not your skin, touch the strip. Residue from food or medication may affect the test’s results.
6. Stop the bleeding by holding a clean cotton ball or gauze pad on the end of the finger. Apply pressure on the fingertip until the bleeding has stopped.
Four Keys to Successful Blood Sugar Monitoring
1. Keep your meter and supplies (lancets, alcohol swabs, testing strips, and so on) with you at all times.
2. Make sure your testing strips aren’t expired. Out-of-date strips are not guaranteed to return true results. Old strips and inaccurate results may affect your daily log of blood glucose numbers, and your doctor may think there is a problem when there really isn’t. Also, keep the strips out of sunlight and away from moisture. Keep them at room temperature or cooler, but not freezing.
3. With the help of your doctor, establish a routine for how often and when you should test your blood sugar. He may suggest checking it while you’re fasting, before and after meals, or before bedtime. But each person’s situation is different, so it’s important to decide on an arrangement that will work for you. When you have that schedule, make checking your blood part of your daily routine—build it into your day. Many meters have alarms that you can set to help you to remember to test. When it’s part of the day, you will be less likely to forget. This will help you build a more accurate log of your blood sugar levels at various times during the day.
4. Don’t assume that your meter is correct. Most meters come with a control solution that allows you to test to see how accurate your meter and/or strips are. Take your blood glucose meter with you to your next doctor’s appointment. Compare your results with those of his or her machine to see whether there are any possible discrepancies.
Preventing Sore Fingertips
Frequent and repeated testing can cause sore fingertips. Here are a few suggestions that may help prevent that:
1. Do not reuse a lancet. They can become dull, which may make pricking your fingers painful.
2. Be sure to prick the side of your finger, not the pad. Pricking the end of your finger can be more painful.
3. Though it may be a tempting way to produce more blood quickly, do not squeeze your fingertip vigorously. Instead, hang your hand and arm down, allowing blood to pool in your fingertips. You can also help increase blood flow by washing your hands with warm water. If you still have too little blood, you can squeeze your finger, but start at the part closest to your palm, working your way down your finger until you have enough.
4. Do not test on the same finger each time. As part of your routine, establish which finger you will use and when so that you never repeat on the same finger during the same day.
5.If a finger becomes sore anyway, avoid prolonging the pain by not using it for several days. Use a different finger if possible.
6. If you have chronic finger pain as a result of testing, see your doctor about changing glucose monitors. Some monitors can use blood drawn from other parts of the body.
Tight Diabetes Control
Written by Kimberly Holland and Tricia Kinmans
Medically Reviewed by Healthline Medical Team on June 30, 2015
Overview
Keeping your glucose levels as close to normal as possible can help prevent or slow some of the complications associated with diabetes. According to the
- maintain a blood glucose level between 70 and 130 mg/dL before meals
- have a glucose reading of less than 180 mg/dL two hours after meals
- keep your glycated hemoglobin (A1c) level at or less than 7 percent
However, tight control is not for everyone. It does carry some risks and involves hard work. The benefits may not outweigh the risks or work it requires.
An important note: If you would like to pursue tight diabetes control, it’s imperative that you work with your healthcare team. You should set your goals with their assistance, as your personal health history may affect whether you’re a good candidate for keeping tight control of your blood sugar.
How Do You Practice Tight Diabetes Control?
Tight diabetes control requires that you do the following:
- Pay closer attention to your diet and exercise.
- Measure your blood glucose levels more frequently.
- Take pills or insulin injections if diet and exercise alone don’t control your blood glucose.
- Alter insulin injection schedules to respond to changes in your glucose levels.
Your diabetes care team will set guidelines, including:
- how much exercise you should get
- how many calories you should eat in a day
- if or how you should adjust your diabetes medications
- how often you should test your blood
These guidelines will likely change frequently as you work to find a plan that best suits your lifestyle and gives you the results you’re aiming for.
Insulin Involvement
People with type 1 diabetes will need to manage their blood sugar levels with multiple daily injections, or by using an insulin pump, if they want to have tight blood sugar control. For people with type 2 diabetes, your doctor may suggest that you begin using insulin injections or other diabetes medications if diet and exercise alone are not adequate in controlling your blood glucose levels.
For people with type 2 diabetes, the decision to begin using insulin depends on how well your diabetes is controlled by diet and exercise, how closely you plan to monitor and control your diabetes, and how frequently you may need injections.
What Is the Long-Term Plan?
Starting a program of tight diabetes control can be overwhelming, but the promise of a healthier, longer life may make the work worth it. Here are some ways to keep from burning out.
Make Realistic Goals
Your blood glucose readings will not always be perfect. Make adjustments based on the management plan you worked out with your doctor and healthcare team. If your numbers are consistently too high or too low, make an appointment to see your doctor and re-evaluate your plan.
Don’t Be in a Hurry
Implementing all the components of a tight diabetes control plan at one time may be overwhelming or hard to maintain, so start with one element, such as checking your blood glucose more often, and add the other components later.
Be Honest
You are the primary leader of your diabetes team, so you need to make sure that you choose what works best for you and are honest about how well your program is going. If you’re not having the success you were hoping for or can no longer maintain a tight diabetes control plan, talk with your doctor about transitioning to a more conventional plan.
Are There Any Risks?
The greatest risks identified for those who are trying to achieve tight control of their blood sugar is the risk of frequent low blood sugar, and the risk of weight gain. These risks are primarily associated with insulin or medications that raise the insulin levels in the body. According to the Mayo Clinic, frequent low blood sugar reactions can lead to serious, life-threatening reactions. If you’re experiencing low blood sugar frequently, you need to meet with your healthcare team to adjust your treatment plan.
Who Might Not Benefit from Tight Diabetes Control?
Tight diabetes control is not for everyone. In some cases, tight diabetes control can lead to more complications. According to American Medical News, elderly people, those who have had diabetes for a long time, those at risk for low blood sugar, and those with a history of stroke or heart attack, should avoid this type of diabetes management — hypoglycemia may cause strokes and heart attacks. Children should also avoid a tight diabetes control plan as having enough glucose in the blood is vital to brain development.
If your diabetes has progressed and you already have some complications, tight diabetes control may not be right for you. The complications may be too far advanced for you to benefit from tight diabetes control, and the routine may be too strenuous on your body.
Tight diabetes control can be beneficial for some and harmful for others. Be sure to work closely with your doctor to figure out if tight diabetes control is right for you, and be sure to follow your plan of care closely.