Tips For Blood Glucose Monitoring

Maintain A Journal

Patients may also want to maintain a journal to keep track of each blood glucose reading. This allows individuals to track fluctuations in their blood glucose over time. They will learn how their levels respond to new medications, different foods, and different periods of fasting. Some patients may use paper journals to write down and chart this information. Others may prefer to keep a digital log. Individuals can also download certain applications to track their blood glucose levels. Applications have the advantage of giving individuals real-time information about their average blood glucose, and some can generate insights over time.

If patients are monitoring the impact of different lifestyle choices, they can take down additional information with each reading. For example, individuals may write down when they are taking the test, when their last meal was, and what they ate. If patients have recently begun any new medication regimens, they can note when they took their last pill. The more information individuals write down, the easier it will be for them and their doctor to manage their condition. Specifically, it will be easier for patients to identify the causes of blood glucose spikes.

Vary Testing Times

Another vital piece of advice for blood glucose monitoring is for individuals to vary their testing times in addition to having an established routine. The set times, such as before and after meals, are helpful. However, there are also benefits to random tests throughout the day. Random tests let patients monitor how well they are managing their diabetes overall. The random tests will tell patients about the stability of their blood glucose throughout the day. Individuals should always adhere to their regular schedule, though they can vary the testing times outside that.

When individuals have diabetes, their glucose levels can change significantly throughout the day. The levels are even less stable in patients who have not yet gotten their disease under control. If patients take random tests throughout the day and find that their levels are in the proper range, they can be more confident that they are managing their condition. However, suppose they notice that there are significant differences in their blood glucose with their random tests. In that case, they may need to talk to their doctor about changing their plan.