You Are In Charge
Share information about your brand with your customers. Describe a product, make announcements, or welcome customers to your store.
Living with diabetes may seem complicated, but understanding it can help you take control. Make sure you are:
- Eating healthy food in healthy amounts
- Staying active
- Managing your stress effectively
- Taking your medications (if needed) as prescribed by your HCP
- Paying attention to your blood sugar readings
- Visiting your HCP and healthcare team members per your regimen
- Getting all necessary laboratory tests done
Think about what you may want to talk with your healthcare team about:
- What is your blood sugar at different times of the day?
- How is your body sugar control over time?
- What tests do you need to find out if you are developing any complications?
Blood Sugar Testing
What Is Blood Sugar Testing?
A blood sugar (blood glucose) test tells you how much sugar is in your blood at the moment it is tested. One way to find out the amount of sugar in your blood is to get a blood test in a doctor’s office. Another way to find out is to test it yourself. This is called self-monitoring or self-testing. Many factors affect your blood sugar levels every day. Testing your blood sugar may indicate if your meal plan, medication, and physical activity levels are working to help you manage your diabetes.
Who Should Test Their Own Blood Sugar?
When you self-test regularly, you may learn what makes your blood sugar too high or too low. With the help of your healthcare team, you can make adjustments to your meal plan, medications, and physical activity levels that will help you better control your diabetes. When you keep your blood sugar in a normal range, you lower your risk of developing problems with your heart, eyes, kidneys, brain, feet, and nerves that can occur because of diabetes.
What Can You Do to Improve Your Self-Testing?
Talk to your healthcare team about your meter and how to test. Always follow the directions that come with your meter. An important thing you can do to ensure a good self-test is to properly wash and dry your hands right before the test, as explained in the user manual. If your hands are not completely clean, this can cause an incorrect blood sugar reading. Before doing the test, wash your hands in warm, soapy water and dry them well. DO NOT use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, gels, or wipes in replacement of soap and water.
More Tips to Improve Your Self-Testing Practices:
- Keep your meter clean.
- Keep your testing supplies at room temperature.
- Check the expiration date of your testing supplies. Make sure your meter is correctly coded to the test strips you are using.
- Put your hand down to let gravity help the blood flow to your fingertips.
- Stick the side of your finger with a new lancet in a lancing device.
- Get enough of a blood drop to apply to the test strip.
- Record the results in your logbook or smart device app.
