Self-monitoring of blood glucose is the approach by which a diabetic patient measures his or her blood glucose with a glucose meter. Then, from the results obtained, he or she can adjust or check the effect of her treatment (diet, physical activity, insulin, and stress management). However, it is not routinely recommended in people with type 2 diabetes and treated with oral antidiabetic drugs. In a context of self-management of diabetes, self-monitoring makes it possible to maintain blood glucose levels as close as possible to the target values.
How to measure your blood sugar
The first step is to meet a health professional. After having identified your characteristics and needs, he will suggest a blood glucose meter that you can buy in a pharmacy as well as any other equipment necessary for self-monitoring: lancets (needles), lancing device (to take blood samples), strips reagents and tissues.
After that, you will follow the following steps to measure your blood sugar levels:
- Wash your hands and dry them well
- Insert a test strip into the meter
- Insert a lancet into the lancing device
- Prick the tip of the finger (side part)
- Gently squeeze your fingertip as needed
- Put the blood in contact with the test strip
- Wait a few seconds
- Read and write the result in a notebook or save it in the meter
Self-monitoring allows you to:
- Check the impact of different treatment components on your blood glucose and make adjustments as needed.
- To supplement the information provided by glycated hemoglobin (A1c).
- Identify, treat without delay and prevent hypoglycemia as well as hyperglycemia.
- To develop a feeling of confidence, security, and autonomy.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a tool for the self-control of diabetes. However, measurements made more often and at times other than recommended or without teaching will not necessarily provide clinical benefits. For some people, self-monitoring can even become a source of stress. Thus, it is necessary to consider the frequency with which you measure your blood sugar and the way you interpret the results. Consider discussing it with your healthcare team.
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Self monitoring of blood glucose. URL Link . November 11th, 2017.
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