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If you have diabetes, you haveresponsibility in your medical care. The role means self-monitoringof blood glucose to manage the health you have. I find thatmanaging diabetes is challenging. It can be a burden, but only ifyou let it. There are enough challenges to keep a person reachingfor that higher level of diabetes management. One thing for all ofus to remember is the importance of a positive attitude. This willgenerally help us through the tough times and keep us motivated tostay on top of our efforts to manage our diabetes.
With type 2 diabetes, our care may besporadic from our health care providers and since they do not livewith us 24/7, it is urgent that we learn how to care for ourselves. Is this easy at the start? I would be lying to myself and to you ifI said it was, because there are many things to learn. It does geteasier and at the same time more frustrating as we learn more aboutdiabetes and its idiosyncrasies. We have to learn how to managediabetes without assistance on many fronts.
Diabetes is termed a chronic conditionfor many reasons. This aside, we can usually manage diabetes bychanging the way we live. This means exercise, if we are medicallyable, changes in diet, getting rid of bad habits, and other changesthat I discuss here. The main goal is to maintain blood glucoselevels in or at a near-normal range and the only way this is possibleis with testing.
Each of us may have different testingobjectives and testing times depending on how we manage our diabetes. In the early stages, it is for knowledge of how different foodsaffect our individual blood glucose levels. Once this has beenestablished, we need to realize that our bodies change and foods thatwere taken off the list may be added back in small quantities andother foods may need to be taken off the menu. We need to test whenwe are ill and our blood glucose may fluctuate rapidly, or not,depending on the illness.
Many people have serious blood glucoseproblems when undergoing an operation or having problems with pain. If a doctor suggests a steroid shot, be prepared to discuss this assteroids tend to drive blood glucose levels upward dramatically andmake their management very difficult. Sometimes the treatment isnecessary and a discussion needs to take place with your diabetesdoctor about the temporary use of insulin to manage your bloodglucose levels during this period of steroid treatment.
Your doctor will periodically order alaboratory blood test to determine your blood glucose level andhemoglobin A1c test. The A1c is an approximate three-month look backat your blood glucose levels. This is the test doctors rely on todetermine how you are managing your diabetes. This is why you needto monitor your own blood glucose levels on a daily basis.
For those of us with type 2 diabetes,testing is based on individual factors. These factors are the typeof treatment (diet versus oral medication versus insulin), A1c, andtreatment goals. Some doctors will be able to help you determine howfrequently to test and others will rely on a certified diabeteseducator (CDE) to assist you. Unless you have a very knowledgeabledoctor, learn on your own and read what others have to say. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is not a one-size-fits-all regimen.
There are many other factors thatshould affect when and how you test your blood glucose levels. Ihave covered some of them in the past, but I recommend you reading this blog by Jenny Ruhl. Then follow this link to more information. I suggest starting in the second row of icons and the middle icon. This is a very excellent discussion on some of the reasons fortesting.
Blood glucose meters today arereasonably accurate. There can be some variability from one unit tothe next, so it is wise to exercise caution and common sense whenusing the readings from these devices. As an example, if a readingdoes not fit with your symptoms (or lack of symptoms), take a secondreading or use an alternate method for testing your blood sugar (suchas a different meter). Blood glucose meters are least accurateduring episodes of low blood sugar. Be sure that if a meter readingis out of range that you think is right, do a rewash of your handswith warm water and soap and dry thoroughly. Then go through theretest.
We cannot leave this topic withoutemphasizing changes that need to be made. I have them laid out in aprevious blog as lifestyle changes, but each lifestyle is spelled outto a greater degree than most do. In the process of making changes,this blog may assist you in what you need to do. For those medicallyable to exercise, my blog on safe blood glucose levels for exerciseshould be of help once you have talked it over with your doctor.
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