When Should I Check My Blood Sugar
How often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines.
Typical times to check your blood sugar include:
- When you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything.
- Two hours after a meal.
If you have type 1 diabetes, have type 2 diabetes and take insulin, or often have low blood sugar, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more often, such as before and after youre physically active.
A1c Blood Sugar Tests
The A1C test measures the percentage of glucose bound hemoglobin in a persons blood.
According to The National Institutes of Health , this gives a general picture of a persons blood glucose levels over the past 23 months .
Abnormal A1C test results do not necessarily mean a person has diabetes. A doctor will confirm these findings with another blood glucose test.
The doctor may recommend running more tests, such as blood work, to rule out other conditions that can affect blood sugar levels.
How Do I Get A Flash Glucose Monitor Or Cgm
If youre in England, Wales or Scotland, check the latest guidelines on who should be offered a flash glucose monitor or CGM on the NHS. If youre in Northern Ireland, youll need to check with your healthcare team.
Generally people with type 1 diabetes should be offered a CGM or flash glucose monitor and some people with type 2 diabetes may be offered a flash glucose monitor to help manage daibetes.
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Helo Extense Sugar Trends Monitor
The new HELO Extense Sugar Trends Monitor isnt a continuous glucose monitor, but rather an attempt to provide non-invasive standard fingerstick glucose testing.
The HELO Extense is a little rectangular gadget that looks like an old-fashioned flip phone but includes a slot where it may be slipped over a fingertip to obtain a glucose measurement after around 30 seconds. While the business hasnt revealed the devices mechanics, it is mostly based on LED optical technology.
Bonus Benefits:
Pitfalls:
- It provides a color-coded result ranging from Low/High/Very High/etc. rather than a typical BG number result because it delivers a health level rather than a traditional BG number result.
- Still pending approval.
Create A Journal To Log Your Blood Sugar Each Time You Test It
There are also apps available that can help you track this information and keep a running tally of your average blood sugar. You may also want to record the time of day youre testing and how long its been since you last ate.
This information will help your doctor track your blood sugar and can be important when diagnosing whats causing your blood sugar to spike.
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Symptoms Of High Blood Sugar Level
Hyperglycemia, often known as high blood sugar, can be brought on by various factors, such as being ill, being under stress, eating more than you intended, and not taking enough insulin.
A persons pancreas secretes more insulin when blood sugar levels are too high. Their pancreas releases glucagon to increase blood sugar levels when they fall. This equilibrium aids in giving the cells enough energy while avoiding damage that persistently elevated blood sugar levels could bring.
Long-term, major health issues might develop from elevated blood sugar over time. High blood sugar symptoms include:
- Incredibly fatigued
- Having visual problems
- A higher need to urinate
Managing your blood sugar can be challenging if you become sick. Your ability to eat and drink may be limited, impacting your blood sugar levels. Use an over-the-counter ketone test kit to screen your urine for ketones if youre sick and your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or above.
If your ketones are high, call your doctor. High ketones may be a precursor to diabetic ketoacidosis, a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment.
Why Test Blood Sugar Levels
If you take certain medication, like insulin or sulphonylureas, checking your blood sugars is a vital part of living with diabetes. It can help you work out when you need to take more medication, when you need to eat something or for when you want to get up and move around more.
Routine checks can help you know when you might be starting to go too low or too high . Its a way of getting to know your body and how it works. It can help you and your healthcare team spot patterns too. Do you write your results down? You might find that helpful.
But importantly, it will help you stay healthy and prevent serious diabetes complications now and in the future. By complications, we mean serious problems in places like your feet and your eyes. This happens because too much sugar in the blood damages your blood vessels, making it harder for blood to flow around your body. This can lead to very serious problems like sight loss and needing an amputation.
The higher your blood sugar levels are and the longer theyre high for, the more at risk you are.
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Factors Affecting Blood Sugar
Almost every lifestyle choice will affect your blood sugar level. Some of them are,
- Rigorous exercise will affect insulin sensitivity, resulting in lower blood sugar levels for up to 48 hours.
- Stress releases cortisol hormone, which can raise blood sugar levels.
- Certain medications like statins and diuretics raise blood glucose levels.
- Diet also has a potential impact on blood sugar. Eating too many carbs will cause high sugar, while protein gradually increases the range.
- Dehydration also increases glucose levels due to less water concentration in the body.
/98 Factors That Can Give An Inaccurate Blood Sugar Reading
As per the International Diabetes Foundation, 42.5 crore people suffer from diabetes globally and this number is expected to increase to 62.9 crores by 2045.
Talking about India, studies have shown that prevalence of diabetes in urban areas has increased from 2 per cent in 1970 to 25 per cent in 2015 and in rural areas from 1 per cent to 14-16 per cent, respectively.
The data is shocking and alarming. To keep our blood sugar levels in check, we rely on glucose testing. But the thing is, these readings might be inaccurate sometimes. Though with the advancement in technology, modern meters have made inaccurate readings less common. But it still can happen and heres why.
Here are eight reasons why your meter can show inaccurate reading and what you can do about it.
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What Is Diabetic Ketoacidosis
If you think you may have low blood sugar, check it even if you dont have symptoms.
When too many ketones are produced too fast, they can build up in your body and cause diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is very serious and can cause a coma or even death. Common symptoms of DKA include:
- Fast, deep breathing.
- Nausea and vomiting.
If you think you may have DKA, test your urine for ketones. Follow the test kit directions, checking the color of the test strip against the color chart in the kit to see your ketone level. If your ketones are high, . DKA requires treatment in a hospital.
DKA happens most in people with type 1 diabetes and is sometimes the first sign of type 1 in people who havent yet been diagnosed. People with type 2 diabetes can also develop DKA, but its less common.
The Big Picture: Checking Your Blood Sugar
Blood sugar monitoring is the primary tool you have to find out if your blood glucose levels are within your target range. This tells you your blood glucose level at any one time.
Its important for blood sugar levels to stay in a healthy range. If glucose levels get too low, we can lose the ability to think and function normally. If they get too high and stay high, it can cause damage or complications to the body over the course of many years.
The logging of your results is vital. When you bring your log to your healthcare provider, youll have a good picture of your bodys response to your diabetes care plan. To help keep track of your levels, we have a glucose log. We also have a blood glucose log available for purchase that is smaller so you can carry it with you.
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Problems Caused By High Blood Sugar
It’s not usually a serious problem if your blood sugar is sometimes slightly high for a short time.
But high blood sugar can cause serious problems if it stays high for a long time or gets to a very high level.
It can lead to:
- life-threatening conditions such as diabetic ketoacidosis
If you have high blood sugar, your doctor or care team may ask you to test your blood or pee to check for ketones. A high level of ketones is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.
Blood Glucose Meter Calibration Quality And Coding
In order to trust the data your meter is providing you, make sure youre getting a quality meter. We discuss this more below, but manufacturers must meet certain standards to be considered accurate. If youre unsure about the quality of the meter, check for the latest updates and versions by the maker.
When you first set up your meter, follow the directions included with it. The calibration process can vary per manufacturer and meter. Finally, your meter will need to match a calibration code with the number on the test strip vial. Some meters are the exception to this. For example, with an Accu-Chek meter, theres no need to code it, so you have fewer steps in glucose testing.
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How Does A Continuous Glucose Monitor Work
A CGM works through a tiny sensor inserted under your skin, usually on your belly or arm. The sensor measures your interstitial glucose level, which is the glucose found in the fluid between the cells. The sensor tests glucose every few minutes. A transmitter wirelessly sends the information to a monitor.
The monitor may be part of an insulin pump or a separate device, which you might carry in a pocket or purse. Some CGMs send information directly to a smartphone or tablet. Several models are available and are listed in the American Diabetes Associations product guide.
High Blood Sugar: 13 Reasons Your Glucose Levels Are Rising
Itâs a fact of life that blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day. These ups and downs depend on a handful of factors, like when you wake up, what you eat, the medications you take, and how you manage stress. So, some variation is normal, to the point that you might not even notice it.
Ignoring blood sugar level changes altogether, though, means youâre ignoring a valuable marker of your health. Especially if you start to have new or unfamiliar symptoms like fatigue, thirst, or brain fog . Learning these symptoms and their causes will give you the tools to better understand your own body, then take the right actions for better long-term metabolic health.
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If My A1c Is Normal My Glucose Is Good
An A1C result thatâs below 5.7% is normal âs standards, but having a result below that number isnât the end of the story. Pregnancy, hemoglobin variants, anemia, liver disease, and certain medications can cause inaccurate A1C results.
Additionally, the A1C test is measuring your average glucose value over the past 3 months, but averages inherently do not capture highs and lows. So, you could have a normal average while also having abnormal glucose spikes. The A1C test should only supplement your regular blood sugar testing, not replace it completely.
What Is Hemoglobin A1c
Hemoglobin is a protein that sits inside red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your body. Interestingly, hemoglobin can also attach to glucose traveling in your blood, and that hemoglobin-glucose combination is known as glycosylated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1C, or HbA1C. The higher your blood sugar levels are, the higher your hemoglobin A1C levels will be.
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When Should I Check My Blood Sugar More Frequently
- If your diabetes medicine changes
- If you begin taking other kinds of medicines
- If you change your diet
- If your exercise routine or activity level changes
- If your stress level increases
- If youre sick. When you are sick, even without eating, your sugar levels may run high, so testing is important.
Follow your doctors testing recommendations during this time. Continue testing more often until you have maintained your blood sugar goal values for at least 1 week. Or continue testing until your doctor advises you that more frequent testing is no longer necessary.
Factors That Can Exaggerate Blood Pressure Readings
When you go to the doctors office, measuring blood pressure is one ofthe ways doctors can check up on your heart health. The only way to diagnosehigh blood pressure, or hypertension, is by a blood pressure test.
A healthy blood pressure reading is anywhere between 90/60 and 120/80.Anything 140/90 or above is considered a highblood pressure reading, which couldbe a diagnosis of hypertension, one of the leading causes of heart disease thatcan lead to heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke, and even dementia. If yourblood pressure measures below 90/60, that could be an indicator of hypotension,or low blood pressure, which can result in dizziness, fainting, and long-termdamage to the heart and brain.
Because of the associated risks, a higher or lower than normal blood pressurereading in a healthy adult can be alarming. But did you know there are a numberof factors that can cause a temporary spike or drop in your blood pressure,leading to a false reading? Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to preparefor your test to ensure an accurate reading.
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Thyroid And Blood Sugar Relationship
In order to function properly, your body needs energy.
Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the primary source of fuel for energy production, particularly for your muscles, brain, and other parts of the body.
In addition, blood sugar is a building block for bigger molecule structures and plays a major role in your health and wellbeing.
Changes in blood sugar levels affect the metabolic processes and affect the entire body.
Since thyroid problems are common as well as problems with blood sugar, it is impossible not to wonder if they could be connected to some people.
Youll find more info about this important subject below.
Diabetes Testing And Monitoring
If you have diabetes, blood glucose monitoring can help you keep your glucose levels within a target range by balancing food, exercise and insulin, reducing your chances of diabetes complications. A range of testing and monitoring equipment is available to help people manage their diabetes. Your doctor or diabetes nurse or educator can advise you on the most appropriate equipment for you and your situation.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners recommends that if you have type 2 diabetes and take oral medication only, you should talk to your doctor or specialist about the need to test your blood sugar levels at home, as most people in this situation do not need to do this type of monitoring. For further information, visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.
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When You Need To Have A Hba1c Blood Test
HbA1c is a blood test that checks if sugar levels have been too high, on target or returned to normal over the past three months. It measures the amount of blood sugar which has stuck to the protein in your red blood cells which carries oxygen around the body haemoglobin .
Because red blood cells last three months on average, HbA1c gives clinical teams good information about the average blood sugar level over the three- month period.
HbA1c should be done at least once a year, but especially if it’s too high, you will need to have this test done at three or six month intervals.
This type of test is done at your GPs or your hospitals diabetes services.
What If I Cant Get A Drop Of Blood For A Fingerstick
If you want to get blood from your fingertip, try washing your hands in hot water to get the blood flowing. Then dangle your hand below your heart for a minute. Prick your finger quickly and then put your hand back down below your heart. You might also try slowly squeezing the finger from the base to the tip.
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Faqs About Different Blood Glucose Readings
Q. How does squeezing fingers affect blood sugar?
Ans. It is advised not to squeeze fingers or to put pressure after pricking. Blood sugar results may vary due to applied pressure.
Squeezing the finger can dilute the specimen with plasma, that is the tissue fluid. Blood sugar readings are lower when you apply pressure on the finger.
After collecting the blood, you may apply slight pressure to stop the bleeding. This process will give an accurate reading.
Q.Why is my blood sugar high in the mornings?
Ans. Rebound hyperglycemia or the Somogyi effect is one of the main reasons behind high blood sugar in the morning. Other than this, the food that you ate last night may also impact on blood sugar level in the morning.
Particular medicines and the release of hormones from the body between 4 am to 7 am can sometimes spike the sugar level in the blood. Check your sugar level before breakfast.
Q. What is the difference between GRBS and RBS?
Ans. RBS refers to Random Blood Sugar. This means measuring the blood sugar randomly, regardless of taking food or not.
GRBS is the short form of General Random Blood Sugar. GRBS and RBS are the same tests done for the same purpose. There is no difference between these two.
On the other hand, Postprandial Blood Sugar is checked after 2 hours. Testing blood sugar 1 hour after eating mightgive an inaccurate reading.
Q. Which finger is best to test blood sugar?
Q. Why is blood sugar reading different in each hand?