When someone is diagnosed with diabetes, one of the first things they are given is a prescription for a glucometer. Your provider will advise you on how often to use it and what your “target” numbers are. They will also go over how often and at what time of the day to use it. A glucometer on its own cannot control your blood sugar. However, when you use it to your advantage, it can be an important tool in getting your condition under control.
Checking your blood sugar at home is incredibly important. In addition to regularly checking your blood sugar, you should check it whenever you feel unwell. Common signs of low blood sugar, or a blood sugar reading of 70 mg/dL or less, are shaking, sweating, rapid heartbeat, headache, hunger, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, impaired vision, feeling anxious or irritable. Common signs of high blood sugar, or a blood sugar reading of 180 mg/dL or above, are nausea, drowsiness, blurry vision, dry skin, frequent urination, extreme hunger or thirst. Make sure you have a clear plan, created with your provider, on what steps to take if you have high or low blood sugar, as these can be considered medical emergencies.
In addition to letting you know if you are experiencing a medical emergency, a glucometer is an excellent tool for discovering how different foods affect your blood sugar. Everybody reacts slightly differently to foods. The best way to discover how foods affect your specific blood sugar is to use your glucometer. Simply check your blood sugar 2 hours after you begin eating a meal. If your blood sugar is higher than 180 mg/dL, or the target number given to you by your provider, then you know it has risen too high. Eat that same meal again, but with changes, until you determine the portion size and combination that works best for you.
A glucometer can be an excellent tool for keeping you safe and discovering what foods and portions of food work best for your body. However, it requires putting in the time to use it. When used correctly, a glucometer can play an important role in getting your diabetes under control.
To learn more, you can visit:
https://diabetes.org/healthy-living/recipes-nutrition
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.