subject: Checking Blood Glucose [print this page] Controlling blood glucose is the most important component of diabetes treatment as potentially life-threatening complications of diabetes are caused by extreme swings in blood glucose. High blood glucose or hyperglycemia, if left untreated causes ketoacidosis or diabetic coma and causes damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and blood vessels. Low blood glucose or hypoglycemia causes dizziness, fainting or even coma. The goal in diabetes treatment is to keep the blood glucose level in the target range, not too high or too low.
To control blood glucose, people with diabetes are recommended to regularly check blood glucose especially if they are on insulin therapy, pregnant, having difficulties controlling their blood glucose and having episodes of hypoglycemia without warnings.
The actual checking of blood glucose is very simple. First the hands need to be washed. A glucose test strip is then inserted into the glucose meter. To get a blood sample, a lancet is used to prick a finger. The test strip is then touched into the blood. The meter displays the results soon after. A lot of people use a lancing device that holds the lancet which is released through a spring-loaded mechanism triggered by a single click. They find that the pain of pricking is lessened using a lancing device
Blood glucose targets vary depending on many factors including age or life expectancy, duration of diabetes, micro vascular conditions, awareness of hypoglycemia and considerations based on each patient's case. Each diabetic patient has to closely work with his doctor to come-up with blood glucose targets that are suitable for him.
Checking the blood glucose levels is not a one-time activity. Every result has to be recorded and maintained so a patient can have a record of how changes in diet, physical activity, etc. affect blood glucose levels. Diabetic logbooks are available for this purpose. They come in standard logbooks where results are recorded and they are also available in software form for patients to fill-out online.
Blood glucose levels are not only affected by diet and physical activity. It can be affected by a host of other things like hormone activity, stress levels, etc. A lot of diabetics get frustrated by how it fluctuates even with monotony in diet and physical activity. This makes recording blood glucose results equally important as checking. A record provides a way to track and monitor if a diabetes treatment plan is working the way it is intended. Blood glucose levels that are difficult to control based on records could mean that a different treatment plan may be needed.
