A glucose monitoring blood sugar test can provide answers to patients on whether current treatment plans are working. Since glucose levels need to remain even throughout the day, it is important that the patient know if the current treatment is working good. There is no way to be certain of this without a glucose monitor and learning how to test your blood sugar. The best time to check glucose levels are right before a meal and 2 hours after a meal. It generally takes the body 2 hours after completing a meal for the glucose readings to be normal. Normal readings are usually around 120 mg/dL. If readings are extremely low, below 60 mg/dL, then the patient may be suffering from low glucose. Symptoms of low sugar include feeling faint, weak, and nauseous. Readings over 120 mg/dL can be an indication of diabetes and a physician should be consulted so that a glucose monitoring blood sugar test can be done.
A physician may want to perform some tests on the patient who has symptoms of high blood sugar. A glucose monitoring blood sugar test is usually done in the laboratory where they can keep a check on blood glucose levels of the patient over several hours. Some checks require the patient to drink a sweet syrupy drink and then return in 2 hours for a check. After the first check, several others are done in increments of 30 minutes to see how the insulin in the body is working towards bringing the glucose levels down. This test reveals to the doctor how well the body is using insulin. Someone with pre-diabetes may be experiencing periods where sugar stays elevated longer than it should. This condition is usually referred to as insulin resistance. Some of the risk factors include family history of diabetes, being over age 45, being overweight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, gestational diabetes (developed in pregnancy), and a sedentary lifestyle.
After purchasing a device to keep records of blood sugar levels, the patient needs to understand how to perform the tests accurately. Be sure and read the directions carefully before using to avoid a misreading. Write down all results and show those readings to a physician. Accurate records will help the doctor to determine if the current treatment is working successfully or if it needs to be altered through diet or medication. Knowing how to test your blood sugar will prove invaluable in managing glucose levels. People who suffer with Type 1 diabetes are producing no insulin and must give themselves insulin shots daily. Type 2 diabetes often occurs in people who are overweight or have a family history of it. It can usually be managed with weight loss, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly. Sometimes medication or insulin injections are prescribed because diet and exercise aren't enough to control glucose levels. Coping may be difficult because if a diagnosis is made, you will need to change lifestyle habits and learn how to test your blood sugar. God desires healing for His children, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth" (3 John 1:2). Many people find that it is easier to cope with an illness when they place their trust in God.
There is new technology being tested that allows the person with diabetes to monitor their sugar levels without a finger stick. This particular method is pain free in the form of a patch worn on the skin. A pain free glucose monitoring blood sugar test may be a promising invention for the future. One device that is currently being used for monitoring is a tiny sensor, inserted under the skin. Blood sugar levels are measured over several days automatically. At the present time this method isn't recommended for long-term use. This method may be suggested for use in someone who is having great difficulties monitoring glucose levels or in extreme situations where a physician feels that continuous monitoring for 3 days will be beneficial and is needed for determining treatment.
Complications from diabetes might include damage to the nerves. This condition is referred to as neuropathy and it can be a very painful condition. Common areas of the body affected the most by neuropathy are the feet, legs, arms, abdomen and back. The patient suffering with this condition may experience burning, pain, tingling, and numbness. To prevent neuropathy physicians recommend the importance of learning how to test your blood sugar. Internal neuropathy that affects the digestive system might exhibit symptoms of bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting. Neuropathy involving blood vessels may result in increase heart rate, low blood pressure, and dizziness. A particular kind of neuropathy that affects thighs, hips, and buttocks is called proximal. Another type is referred to as focal and this affects specific nerves in the head, torso, and legs. This kind may affect the eyes and cause chest pain that can be mistaken for a heart attack. Other conditions that may result from neuropathy are nerve entrapment conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Keeping glucose levels as normal as possible will help to prevent diabetic neuropathy.
