Contents:
- Medical Video: Checking Your Blood Glucose | Diabetes Discharge | Nucleus Health
- Things to know about blood sugar checks
- Who needs to do a blood sugar test at home?
- Various types of blood sugar tests and their normal range
- 1. Fasting blood sugar (GDP)
- 2. Blood sugar 2 hours postprandial (GD2PP)
- 3. When blood sugar (GDS)
- How do you check blood sugar for diabetics?
- What can I do to get accurate results?
- Can I just check at home without a medical test?
Medical Video: Checking Your Blood Glucose | Diabetes Discharge | Nucleus Health
If you have symptoms or have diabetes, you need to check blood sugar. Blood sugar checks function to determine whether the blood sugar levels in diabetics are increasing or not. In addition, this blood sugar check can be done at home using tools and instructions that must be followed so that the results are accurate. Find out all about the following blood sugar tests at home.
Things to know about blood sugar checks
Taking a glucose or blood sugar test is an important part of your diabetes care. Depending on your current condition, you might need to visit your doctor several times a year for formal examinations. An examination at this doctor will also prevent you from various symptoms of diabetes complications such as high blood pressure and heart attacks. In addition to preventing complications, doctors can also do cholesterol checks and eye examinations.
Even though you still need to see a doctor, you can also and should check your own blood sugar if the doctor recommends that. Checking blood sugar at home can make diabetic patients learn the causes of blood sugar fluctuations and know how to cope with the effects of increased or decreased blood sugar.
Who needs to do a blood sugar test at home?
The doctor will help you decide whether you need to check your blood sugar at home or not. If necessary, the doctor will help you determine how often and how many times should you test your blood sugar. The doctor will also tell you about the target of normal blood sugar that you have to achieve every day. You can consider a diabetes test at home if you have:
- type 1 diabetes
- type 2 diabetes
- prediabetes
- symptoms of diabetes
Various types of blood sugar tests and their normal range
By checking blood glucose, you can find problems in your current diabetes care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, normal blood sugar ranges between 70 and 140 milligrams per deciliter (mg / dL). Low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) are below 70 mg / dL, and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is well above the normal range.
1. Fasting blood sugar (GDP)
Check fasting blood sugar done after you fast for 8 hours. This fasting is especially fasting for food and drinks containing energy or sugar. Those who are only allowed to drink water. Following are the criteria for normal blood sugar levels based on the GDP test:
- Normal blood sugar levels: below 100 mg / dL
- Prediabetes: 100-125 mg / dL
- Diabetes is above 125 mg / dL
2. Blood sugar 2 hours postprandial (GD2PP)
This time the test will be carried out 2 hours after your last meal. This test is done to see whether people with diabetes eat the right foods or not. Following are the criteria for normal blood sugar levels from the GD2PP test:
- Normal blood sugar levels: below 140 mg / dL
- Prediabetes: 140-199 mg / dL
- Diabetes: more than 200 mg / dL
3. When blood sugar (GDS)
Blood sugar test when it can be done at any time of the day, without having to fast first or do other requirements. People who are healthy or have normal blood sugar levels will show a number of blood sugar levels that are not much different throughout the day.
If your GDS results change every time; some even suddenly can be 200 mg / dL, this can be a sign that something is wrong with your blood sugar. Following are the criteria for normal blood sugar levels according to the GDS test:
- Normal blood sugar levels: below 200 mg / dL
- Diabetes: above 200 mg / dL
Maintaining blood sugar levels at home is very important to maintain your health. If your reading is very low or high, contact your doctor immediately. Seek emergency medical help if your test results are below 60 mg / dL or above 300 mg / dL.
By maintaining glucose in the normal range, you can help prevent diabetes complications such as:
- diabetic coma
- eye disease
- gum disease
- kidney damage
- nerve damage
How do you check blood sugar for diabetics?
Blood sugar tests have different forms, but all have the same goal, to tell your blood sugar level at a time. Most blood sugar checks at home are done with the following tools:
- lancet (small needle)
- a lancing device (for holding needles)
- strip
- glucose meter
- portable box
- cable to download data (if needed)
Start by washing your hands, then place the lancet into the lancet device so it's ready to use. Before using the lancet, place a new strip on the meter. Stick your finger with a lancet in a protective device. Then put blood drops on the strip and wait for the results. Test results generally appear in seconds.
On some measuring meters, you need to make sure the code on the strip matches the meter code. Also make sure to check the dates on the strip every few weeks to make sure they don't expire. Some meters can now use other body parts to check, for example the arm. Talk to your doctor to decide what's best for you.
What can I do to get accurate results?
Finger tests usually provide the most accurate results. Some tests allow you to stab your thighs or arms, but you need to see a doctor before doing so.
The CDC recommends 2 to 4 tests per day if you have diabetes and use insulin injections. You can consider testing before and after eating to see how your diet affects blood sugar. It's important to test your blood after eating simple carbohydrates or sweet foods to make sure your blood sugar isn't too high. It is also important to test every time you make a change in your treatment or if you feel sick.
Blood glucose charts are important for monitoring your health. Good if you keep your test results on paper or inside file computers, having this information can help you recognize patterns and potential problems. You must save your chart and bring it to the next doctor's visit. When writing the results of a blood test, make sure you also note:
- date and time of testing
- the drug you are currently using, and the dosage
- do you check blood sugar before or after eating
- the food you eat (if after eating, pay attention to the carbohydrate content of the food you eat)
- every sport you do and when you do it
Can I just check at home without a medical test?
Okay. Taking an independent blood sugar test is very important in determining how your diabetes progresses from day to day. The reason is, human blood sugar levels change throughout the day, so if you only do tests several times a year in the hospital, of course the results cannot provide a more accurate picture. However, this does not mean that home testing can replace your routine testing.
In addition to self-monitoring at home, your doctor may recommend an A1C test. This is to measure how much your average blood glucose has been for the past two to three months. The recommended A1C test is up to four times per year. Regular laboratory tests can also help you determine how well you control your diabetes. This test will help you and your health team to decide how often you will use the test at home, as well as what your test target should be.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
