Importance Of Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Regularly

As a diabetic, there is one and only one way to know what your current blood sugar level is. This method is by taking a sample of blood and then using a machine called a glucometer to read the sample. You can do this at home with your own test strips and glucometer, or your doctor can do this when you go in for an appointment.

Unless you go to see the doctor several times a day and he or she is willing to take your blood, then you will need to invest in your own glucometer. If you have no way to measure your blood sugar level, there is no way for you to know how you are doing with your diabetes control.

What is so important about blood sugar control, anyway? Most likely your doctor and dietitian have been talking a lot with you about blood sugar, blood sugar, blood sugar. The fact is that controlling blood sugar is the key to being able to live a healthy life with diabetes. The long list of possible complications from diabetes is caused when blood sugar is uncontrolled. These possible complications include nerve damage, slow wound healing, infection, diabetic coma, kidney disease, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. That is a scary list, but these are not complications that will happen, but rather, complications that could happen if you don’t take care of yourself and monitor your blood sugar.

Ask your doctor how many times a day you should check your blood sugar. The number of times recommended may be different for different people. Be sure to take your readings at all different times of day: in the morning when you get up, right before you go to bed, before you eat, after you eat, and somewhere in between. You don’t necessarily have to check every single one of these times every day, but try to vary your times. If you check every single day at 10:45 am, you won’t know how you are doing the rest of the day.

One really good habit to begin when monitoring your blood sugar is to record the results in a notebook or journal each time you test. Write your blood sugar level and the time you took it. Try to keep track of all of the different factors that can affect your blood sugar. Write down the times that you eat, take medicines, and exercise in your journal. You may also want to write down if you are feeling sick or stressed, as this can also affect your blood sugar level. This written record will help you to notice what things most affect your blood sugar. You will see patterns and learn more by recording these factors. You can also take your journal with you to the doctor to get the most from your medical care.

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