The importance of blood glucose self-monitoring
Why should I monitor my blood glucose?
Monitoring your blood glucose can be a very important part of your program to manage your diabetes. Self-monitoring can help you better manage your diabetes in several ways:
- Your personal blood glucose profile can guide you and your healthcare provider in planning your diabetes treatment
- Knowing your blood glucose can help you and your loved ones make appropriate day-to-day choices about what you eat, your level of physical activity, and use of insulin and other medications
- Monitoring your blood glucose level throughout the day can help you recognize and avoid low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) and high blood glucose (hyperglycemia) and the complications that they can cause
- Seeing the changes in your blood glucose throughout the day can help you to better understand the effects of lifestyle and medication on managing your blood glucose levels
How often do you take a blood glucose reading?
The number of times per day you monitor your blood glucose level depends on a number of factors about your diabetes and its management.
- Most experts agree that people taking multiple insulin injections or using an insulin pump should monitor their blood glucose several times a day. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you monitor your blood glucose each morning before eating (fasting), after meals (post prandial), and before bed
- People who only take diabetes pills and whose blood glucose levels stay in their target range may need to monitor blood glucose less frequently
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Situations where you may need to monitor blood glucose levels more often include:
- When you and your healthcare provider are adjusting your diabetes medications
- When you are under increased stress
- When you are making changes in your eating habits or level of physical activity
- When your diabetes is out of control
- When you are starting a new diabetes medication
- During illness
