Blood glucose monitoring is the main tool you have to check that your diabetes is under good control. This check tells you your blood glucose level at any one point in time. Keeping a log of your results is vital.
When you bring this record to your healthcare provider, you have a good picture of your body’s response to your diabetes care plan. (Your healthcare provider will provide you with a paper log, or you can use one of the available online logs.) Some blood glucose meters allow you to download your readings to your computer and send them to your healthcare provider.
When you finish the blood glucose check, write down your results and review them to see how food, activity and stress affect your blood glucose. Take a close look at your blood glucose record to see if your level is too high or too low several days in a row at about the same time. If the same thing keeps happening, it might be time to change your plan. Work with your doctor or diabetes educator to learn what your results mean for you. This takes time. Ask your doctor or nurse if you should report results out of a certain range at once by phone.
Keep in mind that blood glucose results often trigger strong feelings. Blood glucose numbers that aren’t what you expect or desire can leave you upset, confused, frustrated, angry, or down. It’s easy to use the numbers to judge yourself. Remind yourself that your blood glucose level is a way to track how well your diabetes care plan is working. It is not a judgment of you as a person. The results may simply show you need a change in your diabetes plan. Be sure to discuss your results with your healthcare provider regularly.
—Source: American Diabetes Association
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, March 2014
Photo Credit: Health Connection, March 2014
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