How to Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels For Diabetes
There are several ways to monitor your blood sugar levels for diabetes. These include exercise, diet, medications, and regular blood glucose tests. The information that you provide to your healthcare team can help them adjust your treatment. If you are unsure of how to track your blood sugar levels, you should consult your healthcare provider. Here are some tips for doing so:[1]
Exercising
The best way to manage your blood sugar levels during exercise is to make sure you test before you start. A low blood sugar level can result in the ketoacidosis complication, so you should avoid exercising until your blood sugar levels have returned to the normal range.[2] To ensure you don’t fall into the danger zone, check your blood sugar before exercise and before you exercise again. You may have to stop exercising or take a smaller snack that contains at least 15 grams of carbohydrates.
To get the best results from exercise, avoid exercises that are too strenuous. Strenuous exercise will cause your blood sugar to spike because it makes your muscle cells less sensitive to insulin. A normal workout will cause your blood sugar level to dip but then rise again once you stop exercising. You may also need to adjust your diet or medications to prevent spikes. Try HIIT workouts for a week or so to see if you notice any changes.
While experts recommend that people with diabetes do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day, it’s important to consult with your doctor about the right type of exercise for your specific needs. The most beneficial forms of exercise are aerobic, and include activities involving the use of large muscle groups. Exercises should last between 20 and 60 minutes and should be short. A warm-up period should be included before each workout to prevent injury and cramping.
Diet
One way to manage blood sugar is to change the type of food you eat. Instead of eating white bread, pasta, and other high-GI foods, replace them with whole grains. Replace processed foods with whole grains and choose more healthy foods like fatty fish. Fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (also called EPA and DHA) also helps control blood sugar. Polyunsaturated fats, such as avocado, can help improve blood lipids in people with diabetes.[3]
While eating fruit, be sure to eat only a small piece or half a large one. If you must eat a piece of fruit, avoid canned fruit with syrup, and limit the use of fruit juice. Whole grains, such as whole wheat bread, are also good for blood sugar levels. And if you do consume dessert, remember to savor every bite. A small piece of fruit is a serving and a full cup contains about half that amount.
Aside from reference books, diet diaries can also help you track what you eat. People who maintain a food diary report losing twice as much weight as those who don’t. Additionally, they learn which foods are problem areas, which can lead to less mindless snacking. Keep a food diary in a notebook or use an app. The benefits of a food diary are numerous. If you’re looking for more detailed information on diet and blood sugar levels for diabetes, try these articles.[4]
Medications
The use of blood-sugar-lowering medication depends on the type of diabetes you have. People with type 2 diabetes often have slightly higher blood sugar levels than those who do not have it, but this rarely causes problems. Type 2 diabetes in older people does not usually lead to nerve and blood vessel damage, but it is possible to develop high blood pressure. Therefore, medications to lower blood sugar levels in this population are often necessary.
Taking diabetes medications is not a life-threatening procedure, but if you are concerned about side effects, you may want to consider insulin injections. These medications can help your body respond better to insulin. Some even mimic the action of the hormone GLP-1, which lowers blood sugar levels after meals. Your doctor can prescribe one or a combination of diabetes medications. You may need to take more than one medication to achieve the desired blood sugar level, depending on your condition and A1C level.
Some diabetes medications are effective at lowering blood sugar, but lifestyle changes alone may not be enough. In these cases, your health care provider may prescribe an SGLT-2 inhibitor or a GLP-1 receptor agonist. These two drugs work by increasing the production of insulin by your pancreas. These medications help the body use insulin more effectively by reducing the production of glucose in the liver. Some GLP-1 agonists have additional benefits, such as protecting the heart from the effects of insulin. Inhibitors of the enzyme that transports glucose to the bloodstream are also used to lower blood sugar. However, the use of these medications requires regular monitoring by your health care provider.[5]
Monitoring blood sugar levels
Monitoring blood sugar levels for diabetes is an essential part of managing the disease. If your blood sugar level is too high, it can lead to severe complications, including loss of sight or even need for amputation. If your blood sugar level is too low, you can take more medication, eat more food, or exercise more to manage your diabetes. Blood sugar levels can also be affected by food, exercise, and your mental state. A glucose meter can help you keep a track of your blood sugar levels and let your doctor know what needs to be done.
In addition to the health benefits, monitoring blood sugar levels can help you determine which diabetes management strategies are working. By checking your blood sugar regularly, you can make necessary changes in your diet, exercise program, or medication regimen. This will help you reach your glucose targets more consistently and minimize the unpleasant symptoms of high blood sugar and other complications of diabetes. Your healthcare team can recommend a blood glucose monitoring schedule that suits you. The number is not always a good or bad thing, but it is a useful indicator of areas of improvement.[6]
You must record the results of your blood glucose monitor and bring it to your doctor’s appointments. Write them down or use your phone’s calendar to keep track. Some glucose monitors have software that can help you record your readings. There are also apps available for diabetes. Once you’ve gathered enough data to understand your blood sugar levels, you can present them to your healthcare team for review. They can then make necessary adjustments to your diabetes treatment.
Symptoms of a low blood sugar level
Often, diabetics do not notice the symptoms of a low blood sugar level until their blood glucose levels have fallen to dangerously low levels. When this happens, their symptoms may be subtle and are difficult to recognize. This is especially true if their blood sugar is well-controlled, but even if they are, low blood sugar can cause a variety of symptoms. Here are some of the more common symptoms of a low blood sugar level for diabetics.[7]
Severe cases of low blood sugar can result in seizures, unconsciousness, and inability to eat or drink. While some people may experience several of these symptoms at once, others may only experience one or two. Short-term cases of low blood sugar can occur as a result of increased physical activity, a missed meal, or excessive alcohol consumption. If these symptoms occur, it is important to contact your doctor or healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Several of the symptoms of a low blood sugar level for diabetes can occur at night. Although they may look similar to those of low blood sugar during the day, diabetics may also experience problems sleeping. They may also experience perspiration, hot and cold feelings, and headache. Symptoms of a low blood sugar level at night are similar to those of low blood sugar during the day. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or local emergency services. If you feel faint, confused, or have difficulty thinking, call your doctor right away.
Treatment
When it comes to diabetes, one of the goals of treatment is to control the blood sugar level, known as hyperglycemia. High blood sugar levels can damage various parts of the body over time, including the eyes, nerves, kidneys, blood vessels, and nerves. Talk to your doctor if you suspect that your blood sugar level is high and discuss possible treatment options. If your blood sugar levels are consistently too high, you may need to change your lifestyle and medication, or you may need to undergo some other form of treatment.[8]
If you have a low blood sugar level, you should try to eat something. You can do this by taking a snack if your next meal is several hours away. If your blood sugar level is above 70 mg/ld. you may need to urinate more frequently. If you have a history of low blood sugar, see your doctor as soon as possible to determine the best treatment options. While you may not need immediate medical treatment, your doctor can suggest lifestyle changes or medications to improve your condition.
If your blood sugar level is too high, you may be at risk for a dangerous condition known as hyperglycemia. Your kidneys may not function as well as they used to. They may even stop functioning, forcing you to undergo dialysis or possibly undergo a kidney transplant. Similarly, high blood sugar levels weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections. Several infections can result, including life-threatening skin infections and fungal infections. Hence, you should treat blood sugar levels quickly to prevent a diabetic emergency.[9]
