People with diabetes need to take note of a lot of things to ensure that their health is in check. Because of this, the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) has many recommendations that can help people with diabetes monitor their symptoms so they can get the proper treatment or make adjustments to their health program when needed.
According to the CDA, people with diabetes who use insulin more than once a day should monitor their blood glucose level at least thrice daily. Additionally, the CDA also recommends that people with type 2 diabetes should use insulin once a day and test their blood glucose levels once at different hours of the day.
However, type 2 diabetes patients who don't take insulin should get diabetes consultations to know how they should test their glucose levels. This is because the frequency of monitoring will depend on your treatments and how you control your blood sugar.
How Do I Test and Monitor My Blood Glucose Level?
To test your blood glucose levels at home, you need a blood glucose meter. This device helps you determine if your blood glucose level is hitting the target range. Fortunately, you can obtain glucose meters from pharmacies that also provide diabetes consultations, such as Heritage IDA Pharmacy.
When you test your blood glucose level, it allows you to be in control and more proactive about managing your condition. Blood glucose meters can help you identify the effects of certain foods on your glucose levels, allowing you to create a diet that will help manage your condition.
Understandably, using a blood glucose meter can be a bit intimidating; however, it's quite easy to use. Here are things you need to ask your health provider when it comes to testing your blood glucose level with a meter:
How much blood you need or the size of drop you need;
The type of blood glucose strips to use;
How to check if you're getting an accurate reading;
How to code and clean the meter;
What Do I Do If I Don't Have a Meter Available?
When you're experiencing diabetic symptoms, such as hypoglycemia, you need to check your blood glucose level immediately. However, in some cases, you may not have a meter available. If that's the case, here are some things you can do to help manage your symptoms:
Consume a Fast-Acting Carbohydrate: This can include three rot five tablets of glucose that make up to about 15g of glucose in total, 3/4 cups of orange juice, a tablespoon of honey, or three tablespoons of sugar dissolved in water.
Eat a Snack: If hypoglycemia is reversed and the next meal is about an hour away, it's best to give the patient a snack or food with 15g of carbohydrate and protein source.
The Bottom Line: The Best Way to Manage Diabetes is With Proper Diabetes Education
Diabetes can affect different parts of the body, and for this reason, you must manage and take the proper steps in caring for your body. With that being said, you should always get diabetes support — whether it be through your healthcare provider, medications, or treatment — to ensure that you maintain the quality of your life and prevent your condition from worsening.
Why Choose Us?
If you require diabetes support, Heritage IDA Pharmacy is happy to provide the medical assistance you need.
Our team is dedicated to providing up-to-date advice and healthcare knowledge partnered with exceptional personalized care. With that, we provide clients with the best pharmacy care options that meet you and your family's health and wellness needs, including compounding medication, diabetes advice, free counselling, and more.
Learn more about our services and how we can help you today!
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