Blood Glucose (BG) Monitoring 101 for the Newly Diagnosed Being newly diagnosed with diabetes can feel overwhelming. One of the most crucial aspects o...

Blood Glucose (BG) Monitoring 101 for the Newly Diagnosed

Being newly diagnosed with diabetes can feel overwhelming. One of the most crucial aspects of managing your condition is blood glucose (BG) monitoring. Regular blood glucose monitoring empowers you to understand how your body responds to various factors like food, exercise, stress, and medication. This knowledge is essential for maintaining stable blood sugar levels and preventing complications. This article will provide a comprehensive guide to blood glucose monitoring for the newly diagnosed, covering everything from the basics to practical tips.

Understanding Blood Glucose Monitoring

Blood glucose monitoring, also known as self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), involves regularly checking your blood sugar levels using a blood glucose meter and a lancet. The meter measures the amount of glucose in a small blood sample, giving you a snapshot of your current blood sugar level. This information helps you and your healthcare team make informed decisions about your diabetes management plan.

Why is Blood Glucose Monitoring Important?

Personalized Diabetes Management: Blood glucose monitoring allows you to understand how specific foods, activities, and medications affect your blood glucose levels. This allows for personalized adjustments to your diet, exercise, and medication regimens.
Related reading: What Is A Normal Blood Sugar Level The Ultimate Guide
Preventing Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Monitoring helps you identify and treat hypoglycemia, which can cause symptoms like shakiness, sweating, confusion, and even loss of consciousness if left untreated.
Preventing Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar): Regular monitoring enables you to identify and address hyperglycemia, which, over time, can lead to serious complications like nerve damage, kidney disease, and heart disease.
Adjusting Insulin Dosage: For those using insulin, blood glucose monitoring is crucial for determining the correct insulin dosage needed to maintain stable blood glucose levels.
Tracking Progress and Motivation: Seeing the direct impact of your efforts on your blood glucose levels can be a powerful motivator to stick to your diabetes management plan.
Early Detection of Potential Problems: Sudden or persistent changes in blood glucose levels can indicate an underlying illness or a need to adjust your medication.

Choosing the Right Blood Glucose Meter

There are many different blood glucose meters available on the market, each with its own features and benefits. It's important to choose a meter that suits your individual needs and preferences.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Blood Glucose Meter:

Accuracy: Look for a meter that has been clinically validated for accuracy.
Ease of Use: Consider the size and readability of the screen, the ease of handling the test strips, and the overall simplicity of the meter's operation.
Cost of Test Strips: Test strips can be a significant ongoing expense, so factor in the cost when making your decision. Check if your insurance covers certain brands.
Blood Sample Size: Some meters require a smaller blood sample than others. This may be important if you have difficulty obtaining blood samples.
Memory and Data Management: Many meters can store past readings, allowing you to track your progress and share data with your healthcare provider. Some meters can even connect to smartphones or computers for data analysis.
Related reading: The Connection Between Blood Sugar And Weight Loss How Insulin Affects Your Goals
Features: Some meters offer additional features like automatic coding, meal markers, or the ability to download data to a computer.

Popular Blood Glucose Meter Brands:

Accu-Chek: Known for its accuracy and ease of use.
OneTouch: Popular for its simple interface and wide availability.
Contour: Features a smartLIGHT target range indicator for easier interpretation of results.
FreeStyle: Offers meters with small blood sample sizes and the ability to track trends over time.

Important Note: Discuss your meter options with your healthcare provider or certified diabetes educator (CDE). They can help you choose the right meter based on your individual needs and provide training on how to use it properly. They can also offer guidance on interpreting your results and making adjustments to your treatment plan.

Step-by-Step Guide to Blood Glucose Monitoring

Once you have chosen your blood glucose meter, it's important to learn how to use it correctly. Here is a step-by-step guide to blood glucose monitoring:

Gather Your Supplies:
- Blood glucose meter
- Test strip
- Lancet device (lancing device)
- Lancet (sterile needle)
- Alcohol swab or soap and water
- Clean cotton ball or tissue
Wash Your Hands:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. This is essential to remove any contaminants that could affect your reading. Dry your hands completely.
Prepare the Lancing Device:
- Insert a new lancet into the lancing device. Adjust the depth setting on the device according to your skin type and comfort level. The higher the number, the deeper the puncture.
Prepare the Blood Glucose Meter:
- Insert a test strip into the meter. The meter will turn on automatically in some cases. Make sure the code on the meter matches the code on the test strip vial. Some meters require you to manually enter a code each time.
Choose a Puncture Site:
- The sides of your fingertips are generally recommended for puncturing. Avoid using the tips or pads of your fingers, as these areas have more nerve endings and may be more painful. Rotate puncture sites to prevent soreness and scarring.
Clean the Puncture Site:
- Clean the chosen fingertip with an alcohol swab or soap and water. Allow the area to dry completely before puncturing.
Puncture Your Finger:
- Place the lancing device firmly against the chosen fingertip and press the release button.
Obtain a Blood Sample:
- Gently massage or squeeze your finger near the puncture site to encourage a drop of blood to form. Avoid squeezing too hard, as this can dilute the blood sample and affect the accuracy of the reading.
Apply Blood to the Test Strip:
- Hold the test strip to the drop of blood and allow it to be drawn into the strip. Make sure to apply enough blood as indicated in the meter's instructions.
Wait for the Result:
- The blood glucose meter will display your blood sugar level within a few seconds.
Record Your Result:
- Record your blood sugar level in a logbook, smartphone app, or other tracking system. Note the date, time, and any relevant information such as meals, activity, or medications taken.
Dispose of Used Supplies:
- Safely dispose of used lancets in a sharps container. Dispose of used test strips in a trash can.

When to Monitor Your Blood Glucose Levels

The frequency of blood glucose monitoring depends on your individual needs and treatment plan. Your healthcare provider will provide specific recommendations, but here are some general guidelines:

Typical Monitoring Schedules:

People Using Multiple Daily Injections of Insulin:
- Before each meal
- Before bedtime
- Occasionally after meals
- Before, during, and after exercise
- When you suspect low blood glucose
- When you are sick
People Using Basal-Bolus Insulin Regimen:
- Similar to multiple daily injections
- May require more frequent monitoring to fine-tune insulin doses
People Taking Oral Medications:
- Fasting blood glucose in the morning
- Two hours after a main meal
- Before bedtime
- As needed if you suspect low blood glucose or have symptoms of high blood glucose
People Managing Diabetes with Diet and Exercise:
- Fasting blood glucose in the morning
- Two hours after a main meal
- Less frequent monitoring compared to those using medication
- As needed if you suspect low blood glucose or have symptoms of high blood glucose

Situations Requiring More Frequent Monitoring:

Illness: During illness, your blood glucose levels can fluctuate significantly. Monitor more frequently and contact your healthcare provider if you are unable to keep your blood glucose within your target range.
Changes in Medication: When starting a new medication or adjusting your dosage, monitor your blood glucose more often to see how your body is responding.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women with diabetes require frequent monitoring to maintain optimal blood glucose control for the health of both mother and baby.
Changes in Diet or Exercise: Monitor your blood glucose before and after meals or exercise sessions to see how your body is responding to these changes.
Stress: Stress can impact blood glucose levels. Increased monitoring during periods of stress helps you manage any resulting fluctuations.

Understanding Your Blood Glucose Readings and Target Ranges

Knowing your target blood glucose range is essential for effectively managing your diabetes. Your healthcare provider will establish individualized target ranges based on your specific needs and medical history.

General Target Blood Glucose Ranges for Adults with Diabetes (According to the American Diabetes Association):

Before Meals (Fasting): 80-130 mg/dL
2 Hours After Meals: Less than 180 mg/dL

Important Note: These are general guidelines. Your healthcare provider may recommend different target ranges based on your age, overall health, and other individual factors.

What to Do if Your Blood Glucose is Too High (Hyperglycemia):

Identify the Cause: Try to determine what caused the high blood glucose. Was it a large meal, missed medication, illness, or stress?
Take Corrective Action: If you take insulin, you may need to administer a correction dose based on your healthcare provider's instructions.
Drink Water: Dehydration can worsen hyperglycemia. Drink plenty of water to help flush out excess glucose.
Check for Ketones: If your blood glucose is consistently high (above 250 mg/dL), check your urine for ketones. Ketones can indicate a serious condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Contact Your Healthcare Provider: If your blood glucose remains high despite your efforts or if you have ketones in your urine, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

What to Do if Your Blood Glucose is Too Low (Hypoglycemia):

Recognize the Symptoms: Be aware of the symptoms of hypoglycemia, which may include shakiness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, hunger, and rapid heartbeat.
Treat Immediately: If you suspect hypoglycemia, check your blood glucose if possible. If it is below 70 mg/dL, or if you have symptoms even if you can't check, take 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates such as glucose tablets, fruit juice, or regular soda.
Recheck After 15 Minutes: After 15 minutes, recheck your blood glucose. If it is still below 70 mg/dL, repeat the treatment.
Eat a Meal or Snack: Once your blood glucose is back to normal, eat a meal or snack to prevent it from dropping again.
Contact Your Healthcare Provider: If you experience frequent or severe episodes of hypoglycemia, contact your healthcare provider to review your treatment plan.

Tips for Accurate and Effective Blood Glucose Monitoring

To ensure accurate and effective blood glucose monitoring, consider these tips:

Store Test Strips Properly: Store test strips in their original container and protect them from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight. Do not use test strips that are expired or damaged.
Calibrate Your Meter Regularly: Some meters require periodic calibration using a control solution. Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Keep Your Meter Clean: Clean your blood glucose meter regularly with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid getting liquid inside the meter.
Check Your Meter Against Lab Results: Periodically, bring your blood glucose meter to your healthcare provider's office and compare its readings to the results of a lab test. This will help you verify the accuracy of your meter.
Keep a Detailed Log: Maintain a detailed log of your blood glucose readings, meals, activity, medications, and any other relevant information. This will help you identify patterns and trends and make informed decisions about your diabetes management plan.
Communicate with Your Healthcare Team: Share your blood glucose monitoring data with your healthcare team regularly. They can help you interpret your results, adjust your treatment plan, and address any concerns you may have.
Stay Educated: Continue to learn about diabetes management through reputable sources such as the American Diabetes Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and your healthcare provider.
Proper coding: Ensure the monitor is correctly coded for the strips being used. This often involves matching a code on the test strip vial with the meter settings. Errors in coding can lead to inaccurate results.
Related reading: Hypoglycemia Vs Hyperglycemia Spotting The Critical Warning Signs

Blood glucose monitoring is a powerful tool for managing your diabetes and maintaining optimal health. By understanding the basics of blood glucose monitoring, choosing the right meter, using it correctly, and working closely with your healthcare team, you can take control of your blood sugar levels and live a long and healthy life with diabetes. Remember that every individual's diabetes management plan is unique, and your healthcare provider is your best resource for personalized advice and guidance.