If you've never been diagnosed with diabetes, normal glucose levels may be important to monitor. Diabetes, also called diabetes mellitus, is simply the medical term for a group of conditions where your body isn't able to properly process the sugar (glucose). Symptoms of diabetes include:
When you have high blood glucose, your body often responds by slowing down metabolism. This means that your body doesn't produce as much energy and your body tends to store a lot of this glucose as fat. When the level of glucose in your bloodstream rises above a certain level, your pancreas produces insulin to help make your glucose levels normal. The result can be fatigue and weakness. Unfortunately, the problem goes much deeper than just tiredness because the sugar can cause damage to the kidneys and brain and cause problems with nerve function.
It's important to keep blood glucose below the average level of blood sugar in order to avoid diabetic complications. For most people who experience symptoms of diabetes, the best way to keep it under control is to monitor their glucose levels and see what they need to do in order to maintain the levels that are necessary for optimal health. If you're looking for information on how to monitor your glucose levels, you'll want to know about the three different types of glucose monitors available.
The most common type of diabetes meter is a fingerstick test that can give you a reading that ranges from 0 to 4.4 g/dl (normal), which will be followed by a colored dot on the test strip. The glucose level is displayed as an actual number with the percentage of glucose that's in the blood stream. In order to use this type of glucose meter, you will usually have to have both a fingerstick and a small blood sample drawn at regular intervals.
The second type of glucose meter is a blood glucose meter. This type is the most reliable type of monitor for people with diabetes because it provides consistent levels over time. Many doctors will recommend that these meters are used in conjunction with an insulin pump to keep track of your glucose levels. By making small amounts of insulin injections into the blood stream, your doctor can gauge your progress over time.
The third type of meter is an In Vivo Glucose Monitor
These monitors use a sensor to collect blood from your finger. The sensor detects the glucose in the blood by the reaction of your body's cells to the presence of insulin. The blood sugar level changes when insulin spikes or falls.
When you choose between these three types of glucose meters, remember that a glucose meter that uses a fingerstick is the least accurate of the three. There are three main reasons for this: the level of sensitivity is low, the sugar level is less accurate, and it requires the most time and effort to maintain. If you have a child with diabetes, you should get a blood glucose meter that gives you a continuous measurement.
It's important to keep track of your blood glucose. Diabetes can be managed successfully, but it is essential to continue to monitor your blood glucose to determine what the proper levels are so you can avoid complications and continue with your treatment. If you find that your glucose level is rising too quickly or you suspect you may have symptoms of diabetes, talk to your doctor about testing.
If you want to find a fingerstick blood glucose meter, there are many to choose from, including some with batteries that you insert into a pen. These can be a bit more expensive than other types of meters but the accuracy is very good. They also allow you to take your blood samples from many different parts of your body.
Another option is a blood sugar analyzer that will automatically record your blood sugar levels for you at regular intervals. The only thing that you'll need to do is to set your glucose monitor and take your blood sample. Once your levels are recorded and read out, you can make sure your diabetic diet and exercise routine are balancing to ensure that your glucose levels stay within a healthy range. Many patients report that once they've started following a diabetic diet plan and exercising, their blood sugar level continues to rise.
It's a good idea to buy a diabetes test kit to help you get the results you need in order to help you monitor your blood sugar levels. These kits are easy to use and are available at drugstores as well as online. However, they aren't recommended for use while you are diabetic because it's impossible to know whether the test is accurate without testing. To find the right test for you, talk with your doctor.