Daily Life with a Glucose Monitor

Daily Life with a Glucose Monitor

 

 

 

 

When you’re living with diabetes, daily life can be quite different from what most people experience. One of the biggest differences is that you have to monitor your blood sugar levels closely, and one way to do this is by using a glucose monitor. While it might sound complicated or scary at first, there are several things that can make daily life with your glucose monitor much easier and less stressful than you might think!

 

Why should I measure my glucose?

Metering glucose is a way to take complete control of your health. Whether you have Type 1, Type 2, or no diabetes at all, knowing how much glucose is circulating in your blood can help prevent dangerous situations. With access to real-time data about what’s going on inside your body, you can make informed decisions and be prepared for challenging situations.

 

What's the alternative?

People with diabetes use glucose monitors to track and control their blood sugar levels. These small, relatively inexpensive devices help diabetics keep track of when they’ve had too much sugar, giving them a chance to avoid things like nausea, dehydration and even death. That sounds extreme (and it is), but it also illustrates just how important glucose monitors are for those living with diabetes. In fact, using one regularly can be quite empowering—especially for people who have little control over their disease.

 

How do I know if it's worth getting a monitor?

Knowing if you need to monitor your glucose levels every day is different for everyone. If you suffer from hypoglycemia, diabetes, or are pre-diabetic, then it’s likely that you should get a monitor to help control your blood sugar. For people who just want to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels and stay in good health, it’s probably not necessary.

 

What should I measure?

Using your glucose monitor can feel overwhelming at first. So much data is available, and all of it is important to your health. In fact, most people who begin using their glucose monitors quickly find that it's too much information to handle. That’s why you should start by measuring one thing only: your glucose levels before meals, three times a day. This will help you adjust insulin doses as needed and prevent dangerously low or high blood sugar levels.

 

Who's going to use it?

If you have diabetes, there's a good chance that one of your daily tasks is to test your blood glucose levels. With modern technology, most people can simply use a monitor strapped onto their arms to measure these levels at any time. However, even with such convenience, there are still many other factors that can affect how accurate these measurements turn out - everything from when and what you last ate to your stress level.

 

How many times am I supposed to test in a day?

If you’re like most people on continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), you’re probably testing about four times a day. People using fingersticks typically test anywhere from three to eight times per day. How often should you test?

 

Where do I test?

There are many blood glucose test sites, but if you’re injecting insulin or using an insulin pump, your best bet is usually your belly. If you can’t do that (or if it hurts), you can also test on other parts of your body like your forearm, upper arm and thigh.

 

Will the monitor change my behavior?

During my first week of wearing a glucose monitor, I was shocked to discover just how quickly eating and drinking impacted my blood sugar. One afternoon, while driving back from lunch with friends, I snacked on some trail mix. That little snack sent my blood sugar soaring over 300 mg/dL—and it took two hours for it to drop back down to normal! I’ve now discovered that even small indulgences can have major consequences for me.

 

What about insulin dosing tools?

If you find you’re using insulin, it’s a good idea to make sure you always have your dose calculating tools on hand. This includes all of your glucose meters, test strips, and insulin. Some people keep these tools in their bag so they can easily grab them if needed.

 

What about other tools for managing diabetes?

Now that we’ve covered glucose monitors, let’s look at other tools you can use to help manage your diabetes. Having diabetes also means having access to more technology than ever before. While it can be overwhelming to consider all of these tools, we want you to know that there are numerous devices and apps available that can make living well with diabetes easier. Here are some of our favorites