Monitor Blood Glucose

Two tests for blood glucose measurement

1. The blood glucose test can be done at home using blood glucose monitor called self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).
2. The A1C test gives an average blood glucose level over the last 3 months. It is the best way to know your overall blood glucose control performance. This test otherwise called as hemoglobin A-1-C or H-b-A-1-C.

Home Blood glucose monitoring

• Monitoring blood glucose helps to see how food, physical activity, and medicine affect the blood glucose levels. The readings can help to manage diabetes day to day or even hour to hour. Keep a record of the test results and review it at each visit with the health care team.
• Learn to test by yourself - Be sure and confirm with your health care team that you are performing the test in a correct way. Also, know whether the meter gives the results as plasma or whole blood glucose.
• Blood glucose goals for most diabetics are shown in below table for both plasma and whole blood values. Confirm what is your glucose meter output format is?
• Test frequency – Blood glucose test usually done before meals, after meals, and or at bedtime. Insulin users usually need to test more often than non-insulin’s. Ask your health care team for test frequency.
• Home blood glucose monitoring is for day to day diabetic care, still need the A1C test for long term diabetes care.

The A1C Test

• A1C test is a simple test that gives average blood glucose level over the last 3 months. A blood sample to check A1C can be taken at any time.
• A1C test is the best test to judge effectiveness of the diabetes treatments.
• For most people with diabetes, the good A1C goal is less than 7.
• A1C test should be done at least twice a year. Get the test more often (once in three months) if the blood glucose stays too high or if your treatment plan changes.

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