Why Check Blood Sugar
Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, checking your blood sugar lets you see what makes your blood sugar go up or down. For example, some factors that can make blood sugar rise are:
- Too much food, especially carbohydrates
- Inactivity
- Some medications
- More physical activity than usual
Understanding your bodys patterns can help you and your healthcare provider know how to manage your diabetes best. For example, monitoring your blood sugar levels and keeping your blood sugar within your target range reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
In addition, managing your diabetes can help prevent severely high blood sugar and severely low blood sugar .
Type 2 And Gestational Diabetes
In type 2 and gestational diabetes , your body still produces insulin, but it doesn’t use it efficiently. This is called insulin resistance and it makes blood sugar levels rise.
If you one of these conditions, you may only need to test two to four times per day. You may test much more often, though, especially when your diagnosis is new and your levels aren’t yet stable.
You may check:
- First thing in the morning and before bed
- Before each meal and before bed
- Before and two hours after each meal and before bed
In part, this depends on whether you take insulin or use other medications. If you manage your diabetes with non-insulin medication and know your typical patterns, you may not even need to test daily.
How To Take A Urine Glucose Test
At your appointment with your healthcare provider, you will be given a container to collect a sample of your urine and instructions on the “clean catch” method to help ensure the sample is sterile. Then a healthcare professional will show you to a restroom so you can collect the sample in privacy.
Once you have collected an ounce or two of urine, you will return the container to the healthcare provider, and it will be sent to the lab for analysis.
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How To Measure Fasting Blood Sugar
This article was medically reviewed by Lyssandra Guerra. Lyssandra Guerra is a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant and the Founder of Native Palms Nutrition based in Oakland, California. She has over five years of nutrition coaching experience and specializes in providing support to overcome digestive issues, food sensitivities, sugar cravings, and other related dilemmas. She received her holistic nutrition certification from the Bauman College: Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts in 2014.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 33,682 times.
The hormone insulin regulates the concentration of blood sugar, or glucose, in the body. People with diabetes dont make insulin or their body doesnt respond well to insulin, so their blood sugar tends to stay high this can negatively affect internal organs and cause a number of health problems. Fasting blood sugar tests your glucose after you’ve not eaten for at least 8 hours, and is one way to check for diabetes and monitor progress of the disease and its treatment. You can have your fasting blood sugar tested easily in your doctor’s office, and gain understanding of your results. You can even test yourself at home with the right equipment.
How To Choose The Right Blood Glucose Meter For You
There are many types of blood glucose meters available for self-monitoring, and it can be quite a challenge understanding which is the right meter for you. Some meters are very basic and show only your glucose reading, while advanced systems like the Dario blood glucose monitoring system come with multiple features, health coaching, and smart apps designed to help manage your diabetes and other chronic health conditions like high blood pressure, weight management and musculoskeletal problems of the back.
The cost of blood glucose monitors and test strips varies, as does insurance coverage, so you should look at your options carefully and decide what best suits you and your lifestyle before deciding which meter to buy.
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Why You Need Apollo Sugar Glucome Glucometer
To control diabetes you need:
- To measure sugarlevels regularly.
- Tell your doctorabout changes in sugar levels.
- Know what foods aregood and what to avoid.
- Know how muchexercise is optimum.
Our diabetes home test kit offersall these and more!
Staying in touch with Diabetes care team:
Take guesswork out of your dailydiabetes care! Sugar levels fluctuate due to numerous factors. By staying intouch with our care team constantly, you can avoid low or high sugar levels.
Our diabetes care team observestrends of your sugar levels and prescribes the right solution at the righttime.
You need a diabetes home test kit in order to measureblood sugar level fluctuations. This will help your doctor optimize treatment,diet, and exercise.
Apollo Sugar Glucome glucometer features
Effortless blood sugar measurementand recording
- Instant transfer tocaregivers and family members
- Gives HbA1c estimate
- Can add diet andexercise for tracking
- Flawlessmeasurement accuracy
Patient Information Consent Form
My Rights
Whats The Difference Between Blood Sugar And Glucose
Blood sugar and glucose are used interchangeably, but its important to understand that glucose isnt really sugar as you know it. There arent granular white cubes flowing in your veins and arteries.
There are many different forms of sugar, including:
When bite into a delicious apple, guzzle a glass of milk, or down an IPA, the sugars you ingest are converted into glucose by your body.
Key Takeaway: Glucose is what your body converts sugars into and uses for energy. When people say blood sugar, they really mean glucose. Dont be that guy that corrects people. You wont have friends.
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What Levels Of Blood Sugar Are Dangerous
Human bodies are wonderfully complex organisms, sometimes to a fault. Its really hard to say exactly what levels of blood sugar are dangerous unless they are really dangerous.
What we mean by that is healthy individuals can have glucose levels ranging from 60ish to about 140. Things start to get bad when you exceed these number, but symptoms might not become apparent until youve reached really dangerous territory. Thats why its important to measure.
Designed For A Better Life
Diabetes is a global challenge. More than 530 million people worldwide suffer from the disease. Our goal is to make checking your blood glucose level as easy as unlocking your phone. You will be able to get measurements throughout the day without pain or extra costs. Diabetologists suggest that more frequent blood glucose measurements can lead to better overall diabetes management and less diabetes-related illnesses. Until thereâs a cure for diabetes, DiaMonTech can make living with it much easier.
OUR STORY
D-Sensor
Integrated sensor that can be build into wearable devices that continuously measures blood glucose. This includes data logging and alarm functions to track glucose levels when they are too high or too low.
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When To Check Blood Sugar
How often you check your blood sugar may depend on several factors, including:
- The type of diabetes you have
- If you take insulin or other medication to manage your diabetes
Those who have well-controlled diabetes and are not taking insulin may not need to check their blood sugar as often. However, it is crucial to work with your healthcare provider to determine the appropriate frequency.
How To Check Your Blood Sugar At Home For Accurate Results
When used correctly, over-the-counter blood glucose monitors are usually accurate. It is important that you follow the manufacturers instructions closely and be aware of the following factors to avoid inaccurate meter readings:
- Test strip care
Test strips can be very sensitive to variables. Always check the expiry date of your test strips before checking your blood sugar, as expired test strips could produce a false reading. Keep your strips in the container they came in, do not mix strips from one container into another, and only use the strips approved for your blood glucose meter. Keep your strips away from heat, moisture, and humidity. Throw damaged or expired strips away and do not use strips on another glucose meter, even from the same company.
- Extreme temperatures
The accuracy of your blood glucose meter can be affected by extreme temperature or other environmental conditions. Keep your meter and strips at room temperature. Dont leave them in the car. Check your meters guide to see what temperature range your meter is most accurate at. If your hands are cold, wash and hold them under warm water before taking a test to improve blood flow. If its a hot day, make sure you are well hydrated before taking a test. Dehydration can cause a spike in your blood glucose levels.
- Testing in very humid conditions
- Coding mistakes
- Contamination on your skin
- Too little blood applied to the test strip
- Medications
- Testing site location and accuracy
- Stick with one meter
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You can also monitor your sugar levels using a device that measures the amount of sugar in fat tissue underneath your skin. This is called continuous glucose monitoring . CGM devices measure the sugar levels in the tissue fluid every few minutes, and alert you if your blood sugar is too high or too low. CGM devices are also available in combination with an insulin pump. People who have type 2 diabetes generally only use them if it’s not possible to monitor their blood sugar properly using other approaches.
Bundesärztekammer , Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung , Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften . Nationale Versorgungsleitlinie: Therapie des Typ-2-Diabetes . AWMF-Registernr.: nvl-001g. 2021.
Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft . S3-Leitlinie: Therapie des Typ-1-Diabetes. AWMF-Registernr.: 057-013. 2018.
Landgraf R, Aberle J, Birkenfeld AL et al. Therapy of Type 2 Diabetes. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2019 127: S73-S92.
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How To Check Your Blood Sugar Levels From Home
If you have come here looking for a solution regarding fluctuating blood sugar levels, if you have come here looking for a diabetes home test kit, let us first congratulate you on taking a great positive move towards controlling your diabetes.
While most people with diabetes doget their diabetes testsperiodically, many of them neglect maintaining a self-monitoring routine thatcan indicate both diabetesdoctors and patients on how blood sugar levels fluctuate in a day.
Some of you might have started measuringyour blood sugar levels with diabeteshome test kits, but it is very common for the initial enthusiasm towane. This often results in losing focus on controlling diabetes and may also takeyou in a journey down south.
In this article, let us see how you cancheck your blood sugar levels at home and how to stay focused and motivated tocontrol your diabetes.
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A Peek Behind The Curtain
This is the heart of our technology. It looks easy and works magically, but we did put a lot of thought into it.
This is our sensor surface â a clear, skin-friendly crystal that guides the infrared light onto your skin. Gently put your finger or thumb on it and keep it still while the screen displays the measurement progress.
This is the heart of our measurement system: A high-tech, state-of-the-art quantum cascade laser that emits infrared light in a spectral range that is absorbed by glucose. This type of laser radiation is safe for the eyes and for the skin.
This is the optic lens that guides the infrared laser beam to the sensor crystal and further into the skin.
This tiny red light laser is part of our detection system.
This is a position-sensitive detector that registers the slightest deflection of the red light beam caused by the temperature change induced in the skin.
The whole system is mounted on an âoptical benchâ that ensures the highest precision during measurements.
MEET THE team behind the innovation
Visiting Your Healthcare Provider
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What Is Hba1c Do I Need To Monitor My Hba1c Too
While a glucometer or CGM gives you the at-the-moment sugar level, HbA1c tells you the average blood sugar level over three months. This is typically measured every 3 – 6 months at your regular check-up with your doctor.
Why is it important to check your HbA1c regularly?
The HbA1c gives an indication of how well controlled your diabetes is. As your blood sugar level can fluctuate minute to minute, the HbA1c gives you and your doctor an idea of what your blood sugar level is on average. This allows you and your doctor to monitor the control of your diabetes at each review , and make adjustments to your treatment plan.
Lowering your HbA1c can bring long term benefits. Two large-scale studies the UK Prospective Diabetes Study and the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial demonstrated that improving HbA1c by 1% for people with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes cuts the risk of microvascular complications by 25%.Microvascular complications include:
-
Neuropathy
-
Diabetic nephropathy
Research has also shown that people with type 2 diabetes who reduce their HbA1c level by 1% are:
-
19% less likely to suffer cataracts
-
16% less likely to suffer heart failure
-
43% less likely to suffer amputation or death due to peripheral vascular disease
What should my HbA1c level be?
Fasting Blood Sugar : Normal Levels And Testing
Fasting blood sugar levels give vital clues about how a person is managing their blood sugar. Blood sugar tends to peak about an hour after eating and declines after that.
High fasting blood sugar levels point to insulin resistance or diabetes, while abnormally low fasting blood sugar could be due to diabetes medications.
Knowing when to test and what to look for can help people stay healthy, especially if they have diabetes or are at risk of developing the condition.
Keep reading to learn more about fasting blood sugar levels, including information on testing and tips for maintaining normal levels.
The body needs glucose for energy, and glucose comes from the food a person eats. However, the body does not use all of this energy at once. Insulin makes it possible to store and release glucose as necessary.
Following a meal, blood sugar levels rise and usually peak about an hour after eating.
How high blood sugar rises and the precise timing of the peak depends on a persons diet.
Food-related factors that can trigger significant rises include:
- eating large meals
- consuming sugary foods and drinks
- eating foods with simple carbohydrates, or carbs, such as bread and sweet snacks
As blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar, breaking it down so the body can use it for energy or store it for later.
However, people who have diabetes have difficulties with insulin in one of two ways:
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The Best Time To Check Blood Sugar
Kathi Valeii is a freelance writer covering the intersections of health, parenting, and social justice.
Living with diabetes includes monitoring your blood sugar levels. Most people do this by pricking their fingers with a blood sugar meter , which measures sugar in a small amount of blood.
Some people use a continuous glucose monitor , a sensor under the skin that checks blood sugar every few minutes. People who use a CGM must also use a blood sugar meter daily to ensure their CGM is accurate.
When you have diabetes, monitoring blood sugar levels is crucial because keeping blood sugar in a target range can help prevent complications, including:
- Kidney disease
- Vision problems
When you check your blood sugar matters. There are several times throughout the day that health experts recommend checking your blood sugar.
This article explains the importance of monitoring your blood sugar, how blood sugar is measured, and how to check it.