Did you know that in the past the only way to test blood glucose levels was through the urine? And these tests were not even a reliable indicator of the true levels of glucose in a person's body. Now, thanks to technology, we can get an instant reading with just one tiny drop of blood.
Currently there are two kinds of blood tests that can be used to test a person's blood glucose levels. They are called “test strips” that allow blood to react with a certain enzyme on the strip. On one of the strips, the blood and the enzyme will create a color. There is a meter that will then read the amount of the color which results in the glucose reading. The second type of strip results in the production of electrons when a blood sample is mixed with it. A meter will then read the amounts of the electrons and display the glucose reading.
You may be wondering how often you should be testing your blood glucose levels with these meters. However, there is no concrete answer for that question. It various depending on what type of diabetes you have, how stable your blood glucose is, and the types of treatment plans that you're pursuing.
Below are time indicators of when you should test your blood glucose levels:
1. People that have both type 1 and type 2 diabetes who are injecting insulin will need to test their blood glucose levels before every meal and then again before retiring for the night. Doing so many tests like this throughout the day and evening may seem like a bit of trouble but unfortunately you can never really “feel” whether your levels are normal or not. Blood glucose levels can rise and fall so quickly that it could be detrimental if you are not tracking it with frequent tests.
2. Those of you who have type 2 diabetes and are fairly stable due to taking medications or are on a steady diet of good foods and exercise should only need to test twice per day. Suggested times are before you have breakfast and also before dinner.
3. Testing your blood glucose levels is something that you may do more often than needed. There is never a bad time to test as it helps keep you more in control. For example, if you would like to have a bite to eat that is not exactly within your diet guidelines, then you may run a test to see what the effect that food has on your glucose levels. Another example is if you are getting ready to exercise and by taking a test beforehand, it will let you know if you need something to eat.
