Diabetes 2 – When To Measure Your Blood Sugar ! So Get Started !
by on Jul.17, 2010, under Uncategorized
Each patient with type 2 diabetes will have a different time schedule they need to measure their blood sugar. the inittial step is learning how a patient’s body with Type two Diabetes responds to physical activity and your diet regimen. It requires building something referred to as a blood glucose profile. You take a blood sugar reading after regular activities such as eating breakfast, going for a morning walk, or taking an afternoon nap. After a few days, you will start to see a pattern emerge that shows what effects your blood sugar levels. For some it may be eating breakfast triggers a glucose spike. For other patients with Diabetes Type 2 it may be that morning walk produces a dramatic decrease in their blood glucose readings.
When should you measure your blood sugar levels? When someone with type 2 diabetes uses insulin, the general rule of thumb is to monitor blood glucose levels before every meal. For those using oral medications or managing it without medication, it’s okay to measure blood glucose less often. Many patients only do it once or twice a week or when needed. Experts suggest most patients with Type two Diabetes do one full day of measurements of blood glucose readings at least once a month to monitor for any abnormalities. If you feel unwell or feel your glucose levels may be off, take a glucose reading to see what the situation looks like.
Each person with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes will need to learn their own patterns. Once you have a blood profile and do a few readings, you will learn how things feel when blood sugar levels are too high or too low. The first signs of a spike or plummet will be physical symptoms. Once you recognize the symptoms, you will know when you need to take a measurement. The people normally around you also need to become aware of the signs. Sometimes a spike or plummet can come on quickly. Others may see external symptoms before you notice them.
You have a wide selection of monitoring tools available today. Many patients must select from a small set if their insurance (in the USA) is paying. However, the technologies have improved greatly over the past few years. A couple of decades ago you might have needed a large drop of blood. Now it only requires a speck of blood. Many monitors will store the results for several readings to allow you to review your recent history. Some even hook up and download to your computer. Monitoring your blood sugar is a matter of good health and poor.
