If you have been diagnosed with Diabetes, chances are you’ve been given a glucometer so that you can check your blood sugar at home. You may have been told by your provider to check your sugar a certain number of times a day or to aim for certain numbers. But beyond that, it’s possible you aren’t quite sure what to do with it. Your glucometer isn’t only for reporting numbers to your provider. It is a tool for YOU to discover how to keep your blood sugar controlled so that you can manage diabetes.
Step 1 is all about emergency situations. Checking often, plus any time you are not feeling well, can tell you if your blood sugar is very high (hyperglycemia) or very low (hypoglycemia). Both cases are considered medical emergencies. Your provider should give you specific instructions on what numbers are considered too high or too low for you, specifically, as well as what to do in those situations. If they haven’t provided you with that information, it is worth a follow up visit so that you can ask. The American Diabetes Association provides general guidelines which can be found in the links below.
Step 2 focuses on noticing trends. I recommend using a notebook or even just a few pieces of paper and a pen. Take the time to jot down your blood sugar readings, what you ate and drank, exercise duration, any sicknesses, and stress level. Doing this for just a few days will help you learn so much about what factors seem to affect your sugar. You may also notice that certain meals make your blood sugar spike or cause your blood sugar to go too low just a few hours later. If this happens, circle the meal in red pen. Make some small changes to that meal and test again to see what happens. Soon, you will have a list of meals that you know you can eat while keeping your sugar within range.
It is possible to live a long and healthy life with diabetes. The trick is keeping your blood sugar levels controlled. By using the glucometer to your advantage, you will be able to learn so much more about self-managing this chronic condition.
For more information, please visit:
- High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia): https://diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/blood-glucose-testing-and-control/hyperglycemia#:~:text=Hyperglycemia%20is%20the%20technical%20term,can’t%20use%20insulin%20properly.
- Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia): https://diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/blood-glucose-testing-and-control/hypoglycemia
- Nutrition: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/eat-well/meal-plan-method.html
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.