mybonsecours
frequently asked questions
why should I check my blood sugar?
how do I check my blood sugar?
when should I test my glucose?
how do I avoid high blood sugar?
what do I do if my blood sugar is high?
how do I avoid low blood sugar?
what do I do if my blood sugar is low?
why should I check my blood sugar?
Checking your blood sugar is easy and important. Doing so regularly will help you control your diabetes and make wise choices about food and exercise. In addition, frequent monitoring lets you and your doctor know if your medicines are working properly. If they aren’t, your physician will work with you to find something better suited to your needs.
how do I check my blood sugar?
To check your blood sugar, you use a lancet to draw a drop of blood. That goes onto a special strip. It goes into a blood glucose meter. The meter reads the strip and tells you what your blood sugar is. Record this information in a daily log. Then, share that with your healthcare team. They will use it to make medical decisions and to advise on controlling your diabetes.
Today’s blood sugar monitors are small and easy to carry. This allows you to check your glucose levels anywhere you go. Pharmacies, drug stores and retail shops sell these monitors. Typically, a monitor comes with a lancet and strips. Most insurance plans pay for monitors. In some cases, a doctor’s prescription is needed to get the payment. If you don’t have insurance, inexpensive generic monitors are available. Generic brands include: True Track, ReliOn Confirm and ReliOn Micro. Walmart and Sam’s Club sells the last two.
Name brand monitors include:
- Accucheck Advantage
- Accucheck Aviva
- Breeze 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System
- Contour Blood Glucose Monitoring System
- Freestyle
- Lifescan One Touch Ultra 2
- Lifescan One Touch Ultra Mini
- Precision Meters
when should I test my glucose?
Patients test their glucose levels at different times. Your healthcare team will help you decide when will be best for you. Typical times for testing are:
- When you wake up
- Before meals or big snacks
- Two hours after a meal
- Before exercise and 15 minutes after.
In all these examples, the goal is to see what your blood sugar level is and then to determine how food and exercise affect it. Again, it is important to record your glucose levels and to note the time and date when you did the test. Remember to share this information with your doctor.
how do I avoid high blood sugar?
Your pre-meal sugar level is too high if it is 180 mg/dl or more. This condition is called hyperglycemia and usually starts slowly. The best way to avoid high blood sugar is to stick to your care plan. Keep in mind that high blood sugar may occur, if you:
- Do not take insulin or other diabetes medicines
- Take steroids
- Eat too much
- Are inactive
- Feel stressed
- Get sick
Make sure you know the warning signs for high blood sugar:
- Tiredness
- Hunger
- Thirst
- Frequent urination
- Dry skin
- Blurred vision
- Slow healing of injuries and infections
what do I do if my blood sugar is high?
If your blood sugar is high, you should:
- Drink water or a sugar-free beverage.
- Check your blood sugar every four hours to ensure it’s going down. If it doesn’t drop in eight hours or the symptoms get worse, call your physician.
how do I avoid low blood sugar?
Not only is high blood sugar a problem but so is low blood sugar. This condition is known as hypoglycemia. This occurs when your sugar level is 70 mg/dl or lower. This can be dangerous. It may cause you to pass out or even can result in death. Because of this, it is a good idea to wear a bracelet or carry other identification that shows you are a diabetic. Remember that anyone taking insulin or other diabetes medicines will experience low blood sugar and the reactions that come with it. The best ways to avoid these are:
- Eat meal and snacks at the same time everyday.
- Carry food for emergencies.
- If you exercise, eat something or use less insulin or pills before working out.
- If you go out to eat, take insulin or pills when you get to the restaurant because you might not eat right away.
- Check your blood sugar often.
- Drink alcohol only with food.
- Learn the symptoms of low blood sugar and teach them to your family.
The symptoms for low blood sugar are:
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Fast heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Hunger
- Nervousness
- Shaking
- Sweating
what do I do if my blood sugar is low?
If you believe your blood sugar is low and you cannot test it, then immediately eat any of these items – all contain 10 to 15 grams of carbohydrates:
- 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey
- 3 to 4 tablespoons of white sugar
- 4 to 5 small hard candies
- 5 to 6 large jelly beans
- 4 to 5 gum drops
- 4 to 6 ounces of a regular soft drink
- 4 ounces of orange or apple juice.
If you believe you have low blood sugar and can test for it, then you should:
- Check your sugar level.
- If your level is below 70 mg/dl, eat any of the items listed above.
- Wait 15 minutes and test again. If the level still is low, eat another snack, wait 15 minutes and test again. If the results remain low, the call 911 right away!
- If – after one snack and the second test -- your sugar level is normal and a regular meal or snack time is more than an hour away, then eat another snack with protein, fat and 15 grams of carbohydrates. Good snack options include: a cup of milk, a cup of sugar-free yogurt, a small piece of fruit or half a burrito or quesadilla.
- If – after one snack and the second test -- your sugar level is normal and you are within an hour of your regular meal or snack time, then eat the meal or the snack.
After a low sugar incident, figure out why it happened. Plus, be sure to check your sugar levels two to four hours after the incident. Call your doctor, if you can’t determine why you had low blood sugar. Also, call, if low blood sugar continues for two or three days in a row.
