by For those living with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, keeping track of blood glucose through regular testing allows you to understand how different foods, physical activity, stress, and medications affect your body. It provides valuable information to help make adjustments to one’s treatment plan in consultation with a healthcare provider.
Why is Blood Glucose Monitoring Important?
Our body needs glucose or sugar for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, regulates the amount of glucose in our bloodstream by moving glucose from the bloodstream into cells. In diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or cells do not respond properly to insulin. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells. Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage organs and blood vessels.
Blood glucose monitoring helps determine if blood sugar levels are too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). It allows one to adjust diet, exercise and medication accordingly to keep levels within a target range. This in turn helps prevent serious health complications and improves overall well-being. Some of the main benefits of regular blood glucose monitoring include:
Determining Treatment Plan Effectiveness
Through frequent testing, people with diabetes and their healthcare providers can evaluate if the current treatment plan – including medications, diet and exercise – is effectively managing blood sugar levels. Test results provide critical insight into any needed adjustments to the plan in order to achieve optimal glucose control. This includes changing the timing or dosing of medications, or fine-tuning meals and physical activity routines.
Hypoglycemia Detection and Treatment
When Blood Glucose Monitoring sslevels drop too low, it can cause symptoms of hypoglycemia such as tremors, headache, dizziness and confusion. Severe hypoglycemia requires immediate treatment to raise blood sugar quickly, usually with fast-acting carbohydrates. Testing allows one to recognize hypoglycemia early so it can be treated before it becomes dangerous.
Reduced Risk of Complications
Maintaining blood glucose levels within a target range as close to normal as possible helps minimize damage over time from hyperglycemia to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and cardiovascular system. Regular testing provides the feedback necessary to reduce excess glucose exposure and risk of debilitating diabetes-related complications.
Types of Blood Glucose Monitors
Over the past few decades, huge advancements in blood glucose monitoring technology have made testing much simpler and less painful for people living with diabetes. Here are some common types of blood glucose meters available:
– Fingerstick Meters: The traditional method still used widely involves pricking the side of a finger to obtain a small blood sample which is placed on a test strip that is read by a glucose meter. Readings are available in just a few seconds.
– Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Systems: CGM devices do not require fingersticks. A small flexible sensor is inserted under the skin to continuously measure glucose levels in interstitial fluid. Readings are displayed every few minutes on a transmitter that communicates with a separate monitor or smartphone.
– Flash Glucose Monitoring Systems: Similar to CGM but the sensor only needs to be inserted once every 14 days. Readings are obtained by scanning over the sensor with a separate monitor device or compatible smartphone instead of receiving continuous readings.
– Non-Invasive Glucose Monitoring: Still in development stage, these would analyze other body fluids like tears or saliva instead of requiring a skin puncture or sensor insertion.
Testing Frequency Recommendations
The ADA recommends most people with type 1 diabetes test their blood glucose levels at least 4 times per day. However, the appropriate frequency depends on numerous factors and should be personalized based on discussions with your healthcare provider. In general:
– People on insulin medications: Minimum of 3 tests per day- before meals and at bedtime. More frequent if adjusting insulin dosages or physical activity levels change.
– Non-insulin medication users: Minimum of 3 tests per day- fasting and postprandial. More frequent if illness/stress occurs or medication adjustments are made.
– Pregnant women: Minimum of 4 tests per day- before meals and at bedtime. Frequent management is critical for fetal health.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is a key component of successful diabetes management. It not only checks glucose control but also provides feedback necessary to identify patterns and make treatment adjustments along with a healthcare professional. While daily fingersticks are still common, new technologies offer less painful alternatives or even continuous readings. Regular testing empowers those with diabetes to proactively manage their condition and reduce long-term health risks.
Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
