Monitoring the blood sugar level is important for diabetics; this must be done on regular basis. The best way to check blood sugar levels is with the help of chart.

The blood sugar level is measured to know and check the amount of sugar, or glucose, in
the blood. The reason why the blood sugar levels must be maintained within the normal
range is because somehow an imbalance of the blood sugar levels would lead to damage in
the small blood vessels. This in turn would result to other health related problems,
which would attack the cardiovascular organs like the heart and arteries.

This is why it is one’s responsibility to look out for his own blood sugar levels by having regular check-ups and consultation with a physician, so as to monitor the blood sugar levels. It’s better
if one doesn’t take any risk when dealing with blood sugar issues.

If one is too busy and cannot spare a day with the doctor, then he can avail of the home
testing kits to measure his blood sugar levels regularly.If you’re using a home testing kit, you also have to know the normal blood sugar levels and ranges, so that when you check your results later, you would know if you’re doing fine or if you need to be more careful with your sugar intake.

Check your blood sugar level frequently. This will let you know how much insulin you will need in order to keep your blood sugar level as close to normal as possible.
But How frequently should we test ? If your blood sugar levels are within a target range, you just need to test once before breakfast each day and occasionally at other times of the day. However for those who take insulin, you may need to check your blood sugar levels several times a day.

The usual time to test your blood sugar level are : before bedtime, one to two hours after meals or a big snack, before you go through any Strenuous physical activity or exercise because this will lower your blood sugar and you may want to make sure that your blood sugar do not drop too low either.

For the diabetic maintaining their blood sugar level in the normal range is key to successfully managing their disease. Without proper blood glucose control the diabetic risks a variety of disorders and complications that are caused by high blood sugar levels. Left untreated for a long period of time diabetes can become a life threatening illness.

The diabetic blood sugar level that those with diabetes should try and maintain is between 70 to 120 mg/dL either before a meal, like breakfast, or four to five hours after their last meal or snack. Blood sugar will go up after any meal or snack and ideally it should drop to under 200 mg/dL about two hours after that meal.

By keeping tight blood sugar control the diabetic can live a long and healthy life and lower their risk for the many complications that include vision degradation, kidney disease, nerve damage and heart disease.

How to Lower Blood Sugar Level :

1)      The number one way you can lower your blood sugar is by eating the right foods.

2)      Exercise is another way you can control blood sugar levels. If you exercise in the morning before eating this can lower your glucose just about as well as medication.

3)      Eating four to five small meals a day rather than three large meals will also help to lower your blood sugar.

4)      Avoid drinking a lot of soft drinks because they are high in sugar and carbohydrates.

5)      Before taking over the counter drugs always read the ingredients and what effects they may have on you.

6)      Find out why your blood sugar levels are high. This can differ from individual to individual and you need to know the specific reasons for your high levels.

By simply following the 5 tips one can easily lower down the sugar levels without any diabetic medications. Doing so will not only keep the diabetics away from the diabetic complications, but also save them from the side effects of diabetic drugs as well.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Diabetes Health or Diabetes Symptoms

Incoming search terms:

• how to lower breakfast glucose level (1)
• over the counter medicine to reduce High blood sugar high glucose (1)
• what over the counter medication will lower sugar levels (1)

We know that monitoring your diabetes is very important, especially to avoid the short and long term complications that can occur if you don’t have good blood glucose level control.

Let’s have a look at a new glucose meter model that has come out that makes it even more convenient for diabetics to keep an eye on their blood sugar levels.

Accu-Check Compact glucose monitor has many simple and easy to use features:

**It uses a 17 test drum that eliminates the need for strip handling. You just press a button and the strip is released from the machine automatically. Also offer easy strip removal after testing done.

**7 day average for your results with memory;

**Results usually in less than 8 seconds;

**You can perform an alternative site testing. You can test your fingertips, palm, forearm, upper arm, thigh or calf. Palm testing seems to be the easiest;

**Small sample of blood needed. Not much larger than the tip of a ballpoint pen;

**Pocket size. Small and light – about the size of a cell phone;

**May be the least painful lancet device. The lancing device – Softclix won’t tear your skin by wiggling from side to side;

**Smart data management. Can download test results to your PC with Accu-check compass software or you can use the infrared technology to beam data to your PDA with active cable. These are extra for your Accu-Check compact machine;

**Auto calibration which means the glucometer will automatically code the machine so you don’t have to code the machine manually each time you open a new bottle of glucose meter strips;

**Adjustable Accu-Check Softclix Lancet Device with an 11 depth setting. The higher the depth number, the deeper the lancet will penetrate into the skin;

**Batteries included;

**Small carrying case;

**Accu-Check Compact includes control solutions; user’s manual and also a quick reference guide in English and Spanish. Includes a diary to record blood sugar results.

But check with your doctor to see if this is suitable for you as it may be not suitable in some circumstances.

So have a look through these features to see if this meter is good for you.

And keep learning about blood glucose meters to be aware of the different features they offer and how they can benefit you.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Accu chek or Glucose Meter

Incoming search terms:

• accu check (40)
• accu-check (19)
• accu-check com (19)
• www accu-check com (14)
• accu check glucometer (6)
• accu check compact (4)
• accu-check compact plus (4)
• Accu-Check Glucometer (4)
• Accu-Check Compact manual (3)
• accucheck machine (3)

Regular blood glucose testing by people with diabetes is important to help control it, and also prevent long-term complications. Good control of blood glucose levels can prevent or reduce serious complications.

The HBA1C blood test, also known as the Hemoglobin (Hgb) A1c test, is much more effective in evaluating your blood glucose control since the results give you an average of your blood glucose level over a two to three months period. Sometimes an individual can fool himself or herself into a sense of false security because they think they are making sufficient changes in their diets and exercise routines sufficient to prevent damage from elevated glucose.

Unfortunately testing blood glucose levels at home only once or twice a day is wildly dangerous. If you only test your glucose in the morning upon rising it can be perfectly normal and not reflect the bowl of ice cream that you had the night before after which your glucose level went to 250 and beyond. That 250 level, even for a short time, does immediate and long-term damage to your body and blood vessels. This is damage that would even be hidden from your physician for too long of a time without access to the use of the HBA1C blood test.

Regular self testing, recording of blood glucose levels by thumb prick blood tests, laboratory test of HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) level a few times a year should be taken.
Other tests that should be performed  routinely include: urine test to monitor kidney function; blood fat levels (cholesterol & triglyceride levels), and tests for kidney function.
Regular blood pressure measurement and treatment if needed.

HbA1c (glycosylated haemoglobin) gets collected in red blood cells when they are produced. This gives a clue about the blood sugar levels over a couple of months – the average lifespan of a red blood cell. Thus, this test shows the average blood glucose level over time, as compared to the thumb prick test, which indicates blood glucose at the time of testing.

What does hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) testing reveal? This is a blood test that measures your average glucose level over the previous two to three months.  It indicates the percentage of hemoglobin (the oxygen carrying part of blood) that has become glycated.  Glycated means it has a glucose molecule attached.  This is always proportional to the amount of glucose in your blood.

The higher the level of HbA1c, the greater the risk of developing diabetic complications.  This should be measured two to four times a year, depending on your type of diabetes.  You should aim to keep it under 7%.

If the HbA1c level is above 7%, consult a doctor for a better diabetes management plan.
If the HbA1c level is above 8%, the doctor may change medication or a more intensive insulin regime be used.

The combination of HbA1c test and thumb prick test results give a better indication of variations in blood glucose levels than either test alone. It is best to check glucose levels first thing in the morning; and before and after meals. Keep changing daily test times to get a better idea of the changes to blood glucose levels.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Glucose Monitor or Glucose Meter

Incoming search terms:

• a1c tips (1)
• Accutest hemoglobin A1c (1)
• Glycosylated Hgb (HbAic) (1)
• hba1c (1)
• hba1c reviews (1)
• hemoglobin a1c hba1c (1)
• tips to control a1c (1)

The first step in managing your diabetes and helping monitor your blood glucose is to know all you can about diabetes, and your specific type of the illness. The better informed you are, the easier it will be to keep yourself healthy. So make sure you know the difference between the different types of diabetes.

A glucometer meter is another term used to describe a blood glucose meter or glucose monitoring system. There are so many choices today in the marketplace that it is often difficult to select the proper one for your or your family member – especially if this is your first time shopping for one.

A blood glucose meter is an instrument that can be used even at home. This Blood glucose meter is used for taking a glucose test and it is a must have for those undergoing diabetes treatment. There is usually a special coated strip on which a drop of blood is placed. The blood is usually taken from the fingertip using a lancing device, which shoots a small, lancet into the skin.

Monitoring blood glucose levels at home is part of the diabetes treatment that is advocated by physicians all over the world today in addition to the diabetes diet. Most physicians recommend that patients acquire a blood glucose monitor or a glucose meter and learn how to take a glucose test and glucose reading on a daily basis.

Checking your blood glucose levels regularly is still a part of diabetes. Thanks to home glucose meters, it’s easy to check your blood glucose with a drop of blood and a test strip. However, there’s more to monitoring your blood glucose than simply testing every day, and that’s where diabetic control solutions come in.

So it is very important that the person using the blood glucose monitor reads the manual supplied with the glucose meter and follows the instructions faithfully. The test must be performed using the proper techniques and the meter should be properly calibrated.

Modern blood glucose monitors take care of the variance and calibrate their glucose reading to match with Lab readings up to 5% level of accuracy.

If the glucose readings are significantly low, look for signs of hypoglycemia or abnormal low level of sugar in the blood. The symptoms include lethargy, confusion, inattention, shakiness or coordination problems. Immediately give the patient something sweet to eat like honey. This is emergency diabetic treatment. Later check on the diabetes diet prescribed by the physician and discuss with him on what has gone wrong in the diabetes treatment.

Monitoring blood glucose levels at home is not very difficult but it must be remembered that glucose meters become less reliable over time and must be checked thoroughly before use. The new models of blood glucose monitors are easier to use and more foolproof.

This glucose test will help people keep track of the glucose level in their blood and control their normal blood glucose levels and continue their diabetes treatment effectively. They will be help patients to make dietary changes and adjust their consumption of fat and carbohydrates. This will help them maintain normal blood glucose level and undertake any glucose treatment if necessary.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Diabetes Test or Glucose Meter

Incoming search terms:

• blood sugar monitor (4)
• Continuous Glucose Monitoring (2)
• About com home glucose testing (1)
• glucose monitoring tips (1)
• google glucose home monitor reviews (1)
• image: glucose monitor (1)
• Monitoring Glucose in simple terms (1)
• normal blood glucose range with home monitors (1)
• picture of glucose monitor (1)
• pictures of the first glucose meters (1)

There are 6 simple steps that you can take to make testing your blood glucose a lot less painful. At the moment, to accurately check our blood glucose the only way to do this, is to prick our fingers and check the resulting blood for glucose.

The tips below focus on ways to get more blood out when you prick your finger with a lancet so that it does not need to penetrate the skin deeply and thus makes it a lot less painful!

1) Wash your hands with soap and warm water – this will help keep the testing site clean and help dilate the blood vessels in the fingers to increase blood flow.

2) Massage your finger downwards to the tip of your finger – this will help push blood towards the tip of your finger so that when it is pricked there is plenty of blood there ready to come out.

3) Have your testing hand pointing downwards below your waist – blood will flow more easily when following gravity downwards.

4) Set your lancing device – lancing devices have different settings to pierce the skin at different depths. If you use the tips in this article you should find that you will be able to use a lower setting but still have enough blood for testing. Try changing the settings to find the right level.

5) Select the right meter – different blood glucose meters require different amounts of blood to carry out a blood glucose testing. The less blood needed the less painful testing will be. Choose a meter that requires only a small testing sample such as the Accu-chek Aviva which needs only 0.6 microliter

6) Alternate your fingers – don’t use the same finger over and over again. You have 8 fingers distribute the testing evenly. You’ll find your fingers will recover much faster and blood flow will be better.

8 Tips on Avoiding Mistakes

1)      Using out of date strips – test strips have expiry dates just like food and if you use test strips after their expiry date you may get an error message on your meter or worse a wrong reading without knowing it.

2)      Wrong test strips code – most test strips come with an individual code on the bottle/packaging. This code must match the code displayed on your glucose meter.

3)      Re-using a lancet – this is a common mistake. Re-using a lancet could affect the accuracy of your reading and could be very painful.

4)      Uncapped test strips – test strips need to be kept capped in their container. If the container is uncapped for too long then this can affect the accuracy of the test strips.

5)      Poor storage conditions – test strips need to be stored in a dark, cool, dry place. If they are not, this can affect the accuracy of the strip.

6)      Meter accuracy – the best way to check your meter is still accurate is to do a control check. Aim to do a control check at least every 3 months and perhaps each time you use a new box of test strips.

7)      Order of testing – some meters, such as the one touch ultra range, require you to put the strips into the meter first then place the blood sample onto the strip

8)      Meter units – glucose meters can measure in 2 units, mmol/l or mg/dl. Which units your meter measures in does not really matter as long as YOU know what units it measures.

Article You Maybe Interested In Reading : Accu Check or Glucose Monitor

Incoming search terms:

• accu check wrong code (1)
• accuracy of blood glucoe testing if accuchek meter not coded correctly (1)
• best finger for accucheck (1)
• diabetes strips storage (1)
• REUSING LAncets affect readings (1)
• storage conditions for accu-chek diabetes test strips (1)
• The effect of various storage environments on diabetes strips (1)
• using wrong code in accu chek (1)
• what is the best finger for accucheck (1)
• which findgers for accucheck (1)