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The best way to keep your diabetes in check is to be diligent
about your glucose monitoring. Monitoring your blood glucose levels
tests the concentration of glucose and gives you the opportunity to
see what makes the level rise or fall. Certain foods or activities
may cause fluctuations and knowing this can make managing your
disease easier.
For those with type 1 diabetes, doctors suggest testing at least
3 times a day, or as much as 10 times. First thing in the morning,
after meals, before and after taking insulin and after exercise or a
particularly stressful event are all useful times to check one’s
glucose level. Luckily for those patients, glucose monitoring is not
as painful or intrusive as it used to be.
There are electronic devices now that are smaller, faster and
relatively painless. Glucose monitoring still requires a drop of
blood, but the lancets on the new devices are smaller and faster
than older models and can take the blood from somewhere other than a
fingertip.
Although it is not required for diabetics with type 2 diabetes to
check their glucose levels every day, it usually is suggested,
especially for those who take oral medications or insulin. It is a
good idea to test after trying new foods, after changing exercise
routines or patterns or after periods of stress. All diabetics
should do their glucose monitoring when they get up in the morning.
Glucose monitoring helps you plan meals and snacks more
effectively and helps you to know if your schedule is working.
Knowing how certain foods affect your blood levels can help you to
avoid the worst offenders and may point out to you troublesome foods
you thought were okay. It can also demonstrate how important
exercise is to your management of the disease.
Diabetes is a disease that, for some patients, the treatment is
almost completely left up to them. If they get their weight under
control, start eating with a goal or plan in mind and increase the
amount of exercise they get, they won’t need medication or more than
1 or 2 trips to the doctor a year. Glucose monitoring is just
another tool in that patient’s hands to keep the blood levels
maintained at a normal level.
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