Guide To Successful Self Blood Sugar Monitoring

Introduction

Monitoring blood sugar levels is an essential management criterion if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Here, we are going to discuss when one needs to test their blood sugar, how often and the common mistakes to avoid.  

Why Do You Need a Glucometer?

A glucometer is a blood glucose meter that measures the sugar (glucose) level in your blood and displays it on a screen. It is a small and portable device capable of tracking the fluctuations and variations in your glucose level. Be it type I or type II diabetes, a glucometer helps measure your blood sugar at home.  

Benefits of Glucometer

• It is easy to use and yields rapid results.
• You can test blood sugar at home.
• It helps in tracking the treatment’s progress and effectiveness.
• The time of testing makes you aware of how glucose levels vary with diet and exercise.

Now that you know the importance of blood glucose meters, you need to know when to measure your sugar levels.

Many diabetic patients use sanitizer to clean before checking sugar. It is very important that the sanitizer is fully dried before pricking for blood or else they will get unusually high reading.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)

Type I Diabetes V/S Type II Diabetes: Testing Schedule

This section will answer your when and how questions regarding blood glucose monitoring. A qualified physician, diabetes educator or more specifically,

a diabetologist’s consultation is necessary for designing your testing schedule. The information below is a general outline of recommendations by medical authorities.

To know whether your blood sugar is in range, laboratory tests must be opted. Your doctor will advise you in detail for the same.

Defect

• Type I Diabetes: Destruction of insulin-secreting β-cells of the pancreas.
• Type II Diabetes: β-cell dysfunction; the body does not respond appropriately to insulin.

Testing Frequency

• Type I Diabetes: Four to ten times a day, depending on severity.
• Type II Diabetes: Varies from once to multiple times daily, based on medication type, insulin shots, and response to treatment.

Testing Schedule

• Type I Diabetes: Before, during, and after exercise; before meals; before bed; before driving and every two hours on long drives.
• Type II Diabetes: Before breakfast, lunch, dinner; after workouts; before bed.

Increase Testing Frequency

• Type I Diabetes: When sick, experiencing hypoglycemia, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, difficulty achieving target blood glucose, or developing complications.
• Type II Diabetes: Same as Type I. Additionally, if on multiple insulin injections or using an insulin pump.

The disadvantages with such instruments are mainly seen when either the patient lacks motivation to test or does not have sufficient education on how to interpret the results to make sufficient use of home testing equipment.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj ,M.B.B.S, M.D.  in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

4 Common Mistakes to Avoid While Glucose Monitoring at Home

The accuracy depends on the functioning of your glucometer and your ability to perform the procedure accurately. Let us learn step-by-step the correct way to test your blood glucose at home.

1. Testing on the wrong spot

• Mistake: Pictures on various platforms might give you a false idea of where to prick your finger for taking blood samples. Pricking should not hurt; instead, it should feel like a ”prick.” Testing on the finger pad can be painful as various nerves are located there.
• Correct Way: Pricking along the sides/edges of fingers (middle or ring fingers preferably) can help minimise the pain and yield a good amount of blood sample for testing. 

2. Not cleaning hands before testing

• Mistake: Using alcohol, licking, touching, eating or keeping hands dirty before testing can cause pain and faulty readings. These activities are likely to cause dilution and massive changes in test results. 
• Correct Way: Wash your hands with mild soap and warm water. Please avoid using any sanitiser to clean them. Dry washed hands with a towel and collect the sample immediately. Do not use any antiseptic before testing. 

3. Using expired strips and reusing lancets

• Mistake: An essential part of glucose monitoring apart from your blood are the lancets and test strips. Reusing lancets can cause severe pain as they turn blunt after each use. A prick from a sharper lancet will hurt less. Pricking from blunt lancets can cause multiple and hesitation cuts. Moreover, expired test strips are likely to yield inaccurate readings. 
• Correct Way: Trying to reuse the lancet or expired strip is a loss at your end. It will not only produce faulty results but will impair the progress of your treatment. Use a fresh lancet for every prick and check the test strip’s expiration date.

You should not use the instrument in cases of severe dehydration, low blood pressure, in cases of Shock, or to make a diagnosis of Diabetes, always seek an expert consultation before trying to measure the blood glucose in such situations.

Dr. Ashish Bajaj ,M.B.B.S, M.D.  in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology

4. People tend to prick the same finger all the time

• Mistake: When the edges of your toes keep touching the rough surface of shoes for months, they tend to become firm. You can touch that edge, prick it, peel it and still feel nothing. The same is the case with pricking one finger as calluses build up over time and result in no pain. This might seem easier but is ineffective.
• Correct Way: The World Health Organisation recommends using the middle or ring fingers and switching between them so that the fingers heal. It will not only prevent soreness but will also increase the accuracy of results.

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

3

1