Glucose or sugar is a source of energy for the body. It is derived from the food that we eat. During digestion, the food gets broken down into sugars which get absorbed into the bloodstream; the term ‘blood sugar’ or ‘blood glucose’ refers to this sugar in the blood. For a diabetic, understanding blood sugar and monitoring it regularly is very important.
Importance of Monitoring Blood Sugar
A person diagnosed with diabetes should take care that the blood glucose level does not rise anymore; monitoring the blood sugar helps to avoid many future complications. Monitoring blood glucose means to calculate the amount of glucose present in blood, and making a note of it each time. People with type – II diabetes are advised to check at least once a day and others who take insulin with type – I and many type – II patients are advised to check at least 3-10 times per day to closely monitor the effect of insulin.
Blood sugar can be monitored either periodically or continuously. Regular monitoring and recording the blood glucose level will help you and your physician in tracking how well your blood glucose is controlled. This regular tracking of blood glucose level will help your physician
- To plan your diet and your physical activities
- To schedule your medication timings
- List out the food that you should and shouldn’t take
Regular testing helps you to avoid future complications by adjusting your diet, medication and physical activities immediately.
Testing Blood Glucose Level
Blood glucose level can be tested using blood samples and urine samples.
Testing Blood Glucose Using Glucometer
Glucometer or blood glucose meter is a small portable electronic device used to measure the amount of glucose in blood. The glucometer kit is available in general pharmacy. A glucometer kit comes with a sharp lancet, chemically active disposable testing strip and a log book to maintain your recorded value. Before starting the test, make sure that all the required items of the kit is within reach.
The test is very easy to perform. Wipe your finger and the lancet with alcohol, prick your finger and place a drop of blood on the test strip. The strip is coated with chemical that when placed in the glucometer, displays digitally the amount of glucose present in your blood. Note down the results regularly and also note down what you had in your diet, what type of physical activities you were involved in and when did you take insulin. This will help you to keep a track on the effects of these things on your blood glucose level.
Selecting A Blood Glucose Meter
While selecting a glucometer, it is always advisable that you take your doctor’s advice. There are many points to be considered while selecting a glucometer.
- Check with your health insurance whether they take up the charges of glucometer.
- Always check how user friendly the kits are.
- Test the speed and the overall size of the instrument.
- Check for the cost and consult various pharmacies before deciding on it.
- Usually glucometer requires only 0.3 to 0.4 microliters of blood.
- Accuracy should be checked.
- Select the one that allows you to take blood sample from different sites of the body.
- Modern devices are equipped with memory devices that allow storage of the data’s.
- Choose the one that facilitates downloading the data’s into a system.
Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring
Continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGM) can be done through a device, which has a small sensor that is carefully placed under the skin to measure the amount of glucose in the cell fluid. The inserted sensor uses radio waves to digitally display the amount of glucose on wireless monitor. Monitoring glucose level continuously enables better control than checking it in regular intervals. Before inserting the sensor it must be check with your blood sample and programmed accordingly. It displays the value for every 1 or 5 minutes. Alarm can be activated to warn you whenever the glucose level is too low or too high. The recorded data can be downloaded on monitor for detail diagnosis or follow-up. Continuous monitoring helps in checking the way blood glucose level respond to medication, diet and exercise.
Blood glucose level should be tested before and after meals.
Normal value before meals: 70-130 milligrams / deciliter
Normal value after meals: <180 mg/dl
The value might vary according to the meals you have taken, physical activities involved, medications taken and many other factors.
High blood glucose level
Very high blood glucose level is medically termed as hyperglycemia (above 15mmol/l). It is the results of either lack of insulin production or when the body fails to utilize the produced insulin. As a result glucose starts building up in the body leading to hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia increases the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, nerves damage, eye, kidney, and foot problems.
Symptoms of high blood glucose are frequent urination and thirst, slow healing of wounds, fatigue and loss of weight. Managing or treating high glucose level depends on the reason for increase in blood glucose. Consulting your physician will be helpful in deciding future diet and medications.
Low blood glucose level
Diabetic patients can have very low level of glucose, also called as hypoglycemia. The symptoms of hypoglycemia are headache, sweating, dizziness, hunger and tiredness. If you realize that your sugar level is too low then immediately do one of the following:
- Take 3 – 4 glucose tablets
- Consume glucose-rich food, fruit juice, a glass of milk, chocolate, sugar or honey.
After 15-20 minutes check your blood glucose level and if it still remains below 170 then again repeat the above steps until its stable.
A1C Test
The A1C test reflects the average blood sugar over a period of 3 months. It is not recommended for diagnosis but however it is done in patients who are suspected for diabetes. This is the best way to determine how well the treatment is helpful in controlling your blood glucose level over a period of time. Diabetics should aim to maintain their A1C test level below 7%, the test results above 7% increases your chance of developing kidney, eye disease, and nerve damage.
Blood Glucose Testing Goals
After confirming your blood glucose values you need to immediately consult your physician and prepare a chart for the list of things that you need to follow and you need to avoid.
- Your goal should be to maintain your blood glucose value 80-120 before meals and less than 170 after 1-2 hours of meals.
- Your goal should be simply to maintain the ABC of diabetes
A A1C value must be less than 7%
B Blood pressure should be 130/80 mmHg
C Cholesterol (mg/dl)
Low Density Lipid Cholesterol should be < 100mg/dl
High Density Lipid Cholesterol for Men > 40, for Women > 50
Triglycerides < 150.
Urine Test
Testing urine sample for diabetes was used globally before the advent of blood glucose testing. This is easy and cost-effective way of monitoring glucose level. Self-monitoring urine glucose level is also very important in checking the glucose level and how well the treatment is working, especially in type-II diabetic patients. Testing urine is a very easy process where the sample has to be placed or passed on the test strip, which requires no pricking or sterile management, as one has to follow for blood test.
Testing the blood regularly helps to maintain the blood sugar levels near-normal and prevent the diabetes-related complication. A diabetic should get themselves educated because ‘the eyes only sees what the mind already knows’.
