The key to any diabetes treatment plan is to keep a careful eye on your diabetes blood sugar level.
Your diabetes blood sugar level (or more accurately - glucose level) provides an important indication of whether or not treatment, whether for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, is working.
There are two different tests which are carried out to measure your blood glucose.
The A1C test is normally carried out at least twice a year by your doctor or a nurse on your health care team.
The SMBG (self-monitoring of blood glucose) test which you carry out yourself at home, often several times each day.
The A1C test, which is a simple laboratory test, is the best way to monitor your treatment over time and to tell your doctor whether or not your treatment plan is working. The test measures your average blood glucose levels over the past three months and will indicate whether or not your diabetes blood sugar levels have been close to normal or too high.
The A1C test will produce a test score and your goal is to try to keep this score below 7. In other words, a score of 6 or less is considered to be normal and 7 or above is too high.
When it comes to testing your own diabetes blood sugar level at home using the SMBG test it is a simple matter of taking a tiny sample of blood using a special needle (or lancet) and popping this onto a test strip and then into a meter to produce a reading.
Most modern home testing kits produce results in terms of plasma glucose and it is common to monitor these level by taking readings before and after meals and at bedtime.
You will of course need to discuss your goals with your healthcare team but, as a general guide a normal reading before meals or at bedtime would be between 90 and 130 and this should not rise above 180 within about two hours of eating.
By monitoring your own diabetes blood sugar level at home you can keep your diabetes under control by adjusting such things as your diet and exercise plan and quickly and easily monitor the results of changes to both as you do along.
Meta
