How To Use A Blood Sugar Meter
There are different kinds of meters, but most of them work the same way. Ask your health care team to show you the benefits of each. In addition to you, have someone else learn how to use your meter in case youre sick and cant check your blood sugar yourself.
Below are tips for how to use a blood sugar meter.
What A Fasting Blood Sugar Test Shows
A fasting blood sugar test performed by a healthcare professional will return results that will fall into one of three different ranges: Normal range, prediabetes, or diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the ADA categorize these ranges with the following results:
| Result | |
| Diabetes | 126 mg/dL or higher |
A fasting blood sugar test that is performed by a healthcare professional and sent to a lab can help in the diagnosis of diabetes. An at-home fasting test should not be used to diagnose diabetes because there are many factors of a finger stick test that can affect accuracy, such as environmental conditions, expired or damaged test strips, residue on unwashed fingers, insufficient blood drop, and testing site location. You can read more about the factors that affect accuracy in this article: The Truth Behind the Numbers: What Affects Blood Glucose Meter Accuracy?
At-home fasting blood sugar tests have a different purpose in diabetes management. They provide a baseline blood sugar reading that, when compared to other readings throughout the day, allows people with diabetes to learn what factors affect their blood sugar and by how much. For instance, if you started the day within a normal range and then saw higher levels later on, there is likely a certain trigger that caused your levels to increase maybe it is due to taking a certain medication, eating a big meal, or other factors.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
This test can be done in the lab or the healthcare providers office with a simple finger stickor your doctor may prescribe a meter and have you test regularly at home.
A fasting blood sugar level indicates what your blood sugar is when you havent eaten for at least 8 hours. For adults without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL. A fasting blood sugar level of 100-125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
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Blood Sugar Levels 2 Hours After Youve Eaten
Many foods have types of carbohydrates called starches and sugars. When you eat foods with these types of carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose, which is a type of simple sugar, and releases the glucose into your bloodstream. Aside from glucose produced by your liver, food is the main source of plasma glucose.
Two hours after eating, your blood sugar levels rise. They rise more when you eat more carbohydrates, when you do not eat fiber, fat, or protein with your carbs, and when you eat certain types of carbohydrates, such as refined sugars and starches.
These are target values from The Joslin Diabetes Center, which include levels for people with diabetes:
| When Measured |
|---|
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your blood sugar control.
Damage can Finger Stick Blood Sugar 200 occur to the sensory and motor nerves of the legs and Normal fasting blood sugar for 70 year old man feet, arms, hands, chest and stomach, and to the nerves that control the Finger Stick Blood Sugar 200 actions of body organs.
There are four FDA Blood Sugar Levels approved CGMs available to buy, and they are made by Abbot, Dexcom, Senseonics, and Medtronic.
I think this is sort of stupid though, I don t Finger Stick Blood Sugar 200 really know what anyone not running the tour de France, or with a working pancreas wants to glean from this.
Another feature that comes with the monitor is the SugarIQ diabetes assistant app for diabetes management, which uses your data .
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
Getting professional medical advice from a healthcare provider like an endocrinologist is the best way to learn more about whether your blood sugar levels are where they should be. Not getting proper treatment for low or high blood sugar levels can be serious and lead to health complications, especially for those with diabetes. Diabetes complications include nerve damage, kidney disease, heart disease, or heart attacks.
If you see a healthcare provider about your blood sugar levels, be prepared to answer questions about risk factors like what you eat, how much you exercise, and about your family history. Some healthcare providers may want to take a blood sample to test your blood sugar levels. They may also order an A1C test, which is a blood test that measures blood sugar control over three months. You may have to fast eight hours beforehand to get accurate test results, so its always a good idea to check before your appointment. Your healthcare provider can create a diabetes treatment plan if you are prediabetic or have diabetes.
Be sure your treatment plan includes instructions on when you would need to seek emergency medical care. Emergency rooms are equipped to handle high blood sugar levels and can administer treatments like insulin therapy and fluid or electrolyte replacement.
What Is The Difference Between A Finger Stick Blood Glucose Test And A Plasma Glucose Test
Question: What is the difference between a finger stick test and a plasma test? Answer: A finger stick glucose test is exactly what it is: it’s a finger stick. So a little poke is make in the finger, and a little teeny, tiny drop of blood is withdrawn. And in that capillary blood we’re able to determine blood sugar levels. And that’s become a very good way to test blood sugars. You know, we have blood glucose meters now — the technology’s fantastic, where people, hospitals, doctors’ offices can use the meter and use a finger stick to be able to determine a blood sugar level at that time. A plasma glucose level is also important and is used for other reasons, but this is blood that is taken from the vein and sent to a laboratory. Now, sometimes those two numbers don’t always correlate directly, so there might be a slight different between the two. And if there is a slight difference, I think that’s something that a person with diabetes would want to discuss with their physician or their nurse. Next: What Is An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test And When Is It Done? Previous: Who Should Be Screened For Gestational Diabetes, And How Is It Done?Continue reading > >
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With nearly 300 blood sugar measurements a day, CGMs offer a new way to evaluate how well an individual is controlling his or her diabetes: time in range. This is expressed as a percentage of the time an individuals blood sugar is within the target values. This metric, recently endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and by an international consensus committee, correlates nicely with control of diabetes and the implied development of complications such as vision loss, kidney problems, and low blood sugar excursions. Greater time in range has been linked to more stable glucose control, which should lead to fewer complications.
As more of my patients use continuous glucose monitors, I find myself relying less on HbA1c and explaining more about time in range. CGMs make it possible to see how much time a patient spends with low blood sugar, which can go unnoticed, especially while sleeping, as well as the amount of time lived with high blood sugar. Looking at conglomerate data makes it easier to identify patterns, such as increased activity on weekend days, premenstrual patterns in women, changes in shifts at work, sick days, and the like.
As with all new metrics, it will take patients and physicians time to use it fully. I trust it will soon be standard of care for patients on intensive insulin regimens and a game changer with the advent of the artificial pancreas a closed-loop system that links a CGM to an insulin pump.
Blood Sugar Basics: What Is Blood Sugar
The term blood sugar refers to the sugar, or glucose, that is floating around in your bloodstream at any given time. Blood sugar, or blood glucose is the main source of sugar found in your blood, and comes from the food you eat.
If you are monitoring your blood sugar, it is important to keep these numbers in check according to the American Diabetes Association .
Your blood sugar needs to be in the right range for you to be healthy. At least some glucose is necessary for your muscle, liver, and some other cells to use as fuel so they can function.
At least some sugar is necessary for your cells and organs to function properly. When our blood sugar levels get too low, it is called hypoglycemia. Without enough glucose as fuel, we lose the ability to function normally. This can make us feel weak, dizzy, and sweaty. And it can even lead to loss of consciousness.
On the other hand, blood sugar levels that get too high are also harmful, this is called hyperglycemia. Our blood sugar levels can get too high when we dont have enough insulin, or when our insulin isnt working well. This is the case for people who have prediabetes or diabetes. If it isnt treated, high blood sugar can lead to serious problems that can be deadly
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that keeping blood sugar levels in the target range is vital. It can help us prevent serious health concerns like heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease, for example.
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Normal Blood Sugar Levels After Eating For Diabetics
The American Diabetes Association recommends that the blood sugar 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal be less than 180 mg/dl for most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. This is typically the peak, or highest, blood sugar level in someone with diabetes. Again, this target may need to be individualized for certain people based on such factors as duration of diabetes, age and life expectancy, cognitive status, other health conditions, cardiovascular complications, and hypoglycemia unawareness. Its important that people with diabetes discuss their target blood sugar goals with their health care provider.
Apply Blood Sample To The Test Strip
Before you prick your finger, prepare your meter by inserting a new test strip according to the manufacturers instructions. Do not apply blood to the test strip until your meter is on and displaying the testing screen.
Once your meter is ready, hold the lancing device loaded with a lancet against the test site with gentle pressure and press the release button to prick your finger.
Make sure the blood drop is large enough to fill the test strip and bring the blood sample to the test strip. Most test strips will quickly wick the blood into the sample area within a few seconds. The meter may provide a visual or audio indication when to remove your finger, after enough blood has been applied.
For more information on how to test your blood sugar see the how to test your blood sugar article.
Tip: As you bring the blood sample to the test strip, avoid wiping or smearing blood on areas outside the designated sample area. Only the edge of the test strip with the sample area should come in contact with the blood sample.
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Fasting Plasma Glucose Test
to help you figure out what diet, exercise and insulin works best for you.
Instruct the What Is Normal Blood Sugar patient and caregiver to report signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia.
A CGM works through a tiny sensor inserted under your skin, usually on your belly or arm.
Eating whole grains is no different that eating sugar with a multivitamin and a few fiber pills.
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feed it open wider to bring the heart more fuel.
This will naturally make fasting blood sugar levels Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar seem elevated.
Anytime your symptoms don t match the number on your blood sugar meter, repeat the test.
Recently, the readings of glucose biosensors at the POC testing by medical professionals and the self monitoring BG by patients has been broadly acknowledged.
These foods stabilize blood sugar and provide a slow, steady release of energy throughout the day, says Normal Blood Sugar Levels Despina Hyde Gandhi, RDN, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator at NYU Langone Health.
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Fluid Finger Stick Blood Sugar 200 intake and output, urine specific gravity, Naturally lower blood sugar immediately and weight are assessed for evidence of dehydration and hypovolemic hypotension.
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In addition obesity doesn t necessarily cause one to have T2DM.
Who May Want To Consider Other Options
This blood glucose monitor may not be right for all users. Given that there are concerns with the accuracy, your doctor may recommend a traditional blood glucose monitor if your condition causes frequent glucose spikes or crashes.
You may also consider having a backup monitor with traditional blood testing in case you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia that the FreeStyle Libre isnt showing.
Note that the FreeStyle Libre isnt approved for people on dialysis or pregnant people.
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What The Numbers Mean
A fasting blood sugar of 99 mg/dL or less is considered within the normal range. A person is prediabetic if fasting blood sugar is between 100 to 125 mg/dL. Diabetes is diagnosed at 126 mg/dL or greater. It’s important to note that one high blood sugar does not automatically make you diabetic. Instead, your health-care provider will likely order follow-up glucose testing over the next few weeks to determine your normal range.
- A fasting blood sugar of 99 mg/dL or less is considered within the normal range.
When Should I Test My Blood Sugar
You may need to check your blood sugar several times a day, such as before meals or exercise, at bedtime, before driving, and when you think your blood sugar levels are low.
Everyone is different, so ask your doctor when and how often you should check your blood sugar. If you’re sick, you’ll probably need to test your blood sugar more often.
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