Home Blood Sugar Testing Methods for Diabetes

Home Blood Sugar Testing

Everyone with diabetes should test their blood glucose (blood sugar) levels regularly at home. Knowing your blood sugar levels allows you to alter your diabetes management strategy if your levels aren't near your target.

Also, regular testing of your blood sugar levels can help reduce your risk of having long-term complications from diabetes. Based on studies of people with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, maintaining near-normal blood sugar and HbA1c levels significantly reduces the risks of complications arising from diabetes.

Ways to Test Your Blood Sugar

Traditional Home Blood Sugar Monitoring. The traditional method of testing your blood sugar involves pricking your finger with a lancet (a small, sharp needle), putting a drop of blood on a test strip, and then placing the strip into a meter that displays your blood sugar level. Meters vary in features, readability (with larger displays or spoken instructions for the visually impaired), portability, speed, size, and cost. Current devices provide results in less than 15 seconds and can store this information for future use. These meters can also calculate an average blood sugar level over a period of time. Some meters also feature software kits that retrieve information from the meter and display graphs and charts of your past test results. Blood sugar meters and strips are available at your local pharmacy.

Meters That Test Alternative Sites. Newer meters allow you to test sites other than your fingertip; these alternative testing sites include upper arm, forearm, base of the thumb, and thigh. However, testing at alternative sites may give you results that are different from the blood sugar levels obtained from the fingertip. Blood sugar levels in the fingertips show changes more quickly than those in alternative testing sites. This is especially true when your blood sugar is rapidly changing, like after a meal or after exercise. It is also important to know that if you are checking your sugar at an alternative site while you are experiencing symptoms of hypoglycemia, you should not rely on these test results.

Lasers to draw blood. In 1998, a laser to draw blood was approved. The laser device produces a precise beam of light that penetrates the skin on the finger instead of pricking it, reducing pain and discomfort.

MiniMed Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. This device involves a small plastic catheter (very small tube) that is inserted just under the skin. It collects small amounts of fluid and measures the sugar content over 72 hours. The device tells you your average blood sugar every five minutes.

GlucoWatch. In 2001, the FDA approved the GlucoWatch, a watch-like device that helps people with diabetes measure their blood sugar via tiny electric currents. It draws small amounts of fluid from the skin and measures blood sugar levels three times per hour for up to 12 hours. The GlucoWatch is considered a first step toward noninvasive, continuous glucose monitoring, but it does have some shortfalls.

The Latest Continuous 7-Day Glucose Monitoring System. In June 2007, the FDA approved another device that measures blood sugar, this time for up to seven days. While a normal finger prick checks blood sugar instantaneously, the STS-7 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (STS-7 System) measures blood sugar every five minutes over a seven-day period of time. This FDA-approved system lets you review your blood sugar levels over a week and notice any new trends or patterns. It's especially helpful for checking blood sugar elevations during sleep or between meals and determining if exercise or diet might influence these levels.

With the STS-7 System, a disposable sensor is placed weekly right below the skin in the abdomen to measure glucose levels found in the body's tissues. This type of fluid is called interstitial fluid. If the blood levels hit preset highs or lows, an alarm will sound, alerting the patient to a potential blood sugar problem.

According to the FDA, these newer devices, including the MiniMed CGMS, the GlucoWatch and the STS-7 System, should not replace the traditional daily finger pricks.

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

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