Ask your doctor or another professional from your healthcare team if you need to test your blood glucose yourself. If they say yes, they will also tell you how often you should do so. To check your blood glucose, you can use a blood glucometer to test a drop of blood taken from the tip of your finger.
Keep a log of your results, noting the date, time you took the test and any changes (food, physical exercise, stress, missed medication, etc.) that could have affected your levels. This will help you see what has an impact on your glucose levels and let you act accordingly. It will also help you and your healthcare teams see if your treatment is working and make adjuments where necessary.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
Hyperglycemia s when the amount of glucose in your blood is higher that the target range. When this happens, try to determine the cause and follow the advice of your healthcare team. If it’s a regular occurrence, your diabetes is probably poorly controlled and it would e wise to consult with your doctor. If untreated, hypergycemia can lead to serious complications.
Hypoglycemia is when the amount of glucose in your blood is lower than 4 mmol/L. Diabetics receiving treatment with certain medications or insulin are more at risk of experiencing episodes of hypoglycemia. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if this applies to you.
Hypoglycemia can arise, for instance, when you eat less or are more active than usual, if you have consumed alcohol, if you have taken the wrong amount of medication, of if your medication needs to be adjusted due to weight loss.
Hypoglycemia can happen quickly and lead to unconsciousness if not treated quickly and lead to unconsciousness if not treated right away, That’s why it’s important to always have a glucagon kit on you to treat hypoglycemia.
