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Ten Good Reasons for Checking Your Blood Glucose
posted 02/09/04

By Jan Chait

1. Helps You Make the Right Decisions
   This reason is the most important, says Barbara Bradley, RN, MS, CDE. "Checking your blood glucose helps you make the right decisions about your self-management."
2. Improves Your Control
   As reported in the October 2002 issue of Diabetes Interview ("No Surprise: Cost of Strips Limits Testing," p. 67), people who tested more often had better blood-glucose control.
3. Helps You Make Insulin and/or Medication Adjustments
   If you find that your blood glucose is always higher or lower than your target range at certain times of the day, you and your healthcare provider can adjust dosages to help you maintain better control in the long run.
4. Provides Immediate Feedback
   Testing gives you immediate feedback, allowing you to take quick action to either bring that high down or raise a low blood glucose.
5. Measures the Effect of New Foods on Your Blood Glucose Levels
   Check your blood glucose before you eat that new dish—and then again two hours after you have taken the first bite. The result will let you know whether you need to adjust the amount you eat or your insulin dosage.
6. Gauges the Effect of Exercise on Your Blood Glucose Levels
   The only way you can determine how your activity affects your blood glucose is to test before, after—and sometimes during—exercise. As always, be sure to check with your healthcare professional before beginning any new exercise regimen. Some diabetes complications rule out certain types of exercise.
7. Keeps You Out of Danger
   If you are no longer aware of the symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia unawareness), you need to test more frequently. Testing will alert you that your blood glucose is dropping before you get into the danger zone.
8. Keeps You Safe Behind the Wheel
   Don't forget to test before you drive. Low blood glucose while you are driving can put you at risk for having an accident. And an accident could result in injury—or even death—to you, your passengers and people in any other vehicle that gets in your way.
9. Lets You Know Just How Ill You Are
   Test often when you are sick. The stress of an illness such as a cold or the flu can increase your blood-glucose levels. Keeping your numbers in range as much as possible will help you to recover faster. You might also need to be checking for ketones when you are sick.
   Even before you have an illness, you need to discuss sick day plans with your diabetes educator so that you'll know what to do when you're "under the weather." Review the plan every few months to make sure you're familiar with what you need to do. Also review the plan with your educator when your diabetes regimen changes.
10. Helps You Adjust Basal Rates and Bolus Doses
    If you're an insulin pumper, testing helps you adjust your basal rates and bolus doses. When your basal rates are set so that your blood glucose stays in optimal range and your insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios are accurate, it's much easier to maintain good control.

Source: Diabetes Interview Weekly.

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