Why is it important for diabetic patients to self monitor blood glucose levels?

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important aspect of treatment for all people with diabetes. It provides immediate feedback and data that enable people with diabetes to assess how their food choices, physical activity levels, and medications affect their blood glucose control.

Who should self monitor blood glucose?

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is an important component of modern therapy for diabetes mellitus. SMBG has been recommended for people with diabetes and their health care professionals in order to achieve a specific level of glycemic control and to prevent hypoglycemia.

What is glucose self monitoring?

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is an approach whereby people with diabetes measure their blood sugar (glycemia) themselves using a glycemic reader (glucose meter). Based on the reading, they can adjust or check the effect of their treatment (diet, exercise, insulin, antidiabetics, stress management).

What is the role of blood sugar monitoring and adjustment?

Regular testing through the day can help you improve control of your blood sugar levels. The results you get from fingersticks show if your blood glucose is within the range set by your doctor. You can use these results to make appropriate adjustments to your diet, activity, insulin, or the dosages of other medicines.

How should patients monitor their blood sugar?

People use portable blood glucose meters, called glucometers, to check their blood sugar levels. These work by analyzing a small amount of blood, usually from a fingertip. A lancet lightly pricks your skin to obtain the blood. Meters tell you your current blood sugar.

How do you do glucose monitoring?

How do I check?

1. After washing your hands, insert a test strip into your meter.
2. Use your lancing device on the side of your fingertip to get a drop of blood.
3. Touch and hold the edge of the test strip to the drop of blood and wait for the result.
4. Your blood glucose level will appear on the meter’s display.

Why do I get different blood sugar readings from different fingers?

Contamination of the fingers is a common culprit in blood sugar reading variability. That’s because it only takes a little bit of food residue on your hands to impact blood glucose levels.

What does self monitoring of blood glucose mean?

Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) Self monitoring is the use of regular blood testing to understand one’s diabetes control and inform changes to improve one’s control or wider regime. Self monitoring of blood glucose levels has been a hotly disputed issue for a number of years, particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes…

What are the benefits of home blood glucose testing?

Benefits of self monitoring of blood glucose. There are a number of benefits of home blood glucose testing: Helps to determine which foods or diet are best for one’s control. Helps inform the patient and doctor about how well the medication regime is working. Reduces anxiety about, and increases understanding of, hypoglycemia.

Can a type 2 diabetic self monitor their blood sugar?

Self monitoring of blood glucose levels has been a hotly disputed issue for a number of years, particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin. For information and advice on what to do if your access to testing supplies is restricted, see our availability of test strips page.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of self monitoring?

Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) 1 Benefits of self monitoring of blood glucose. 2 Willingness and committment. The benefits tend to be most pronounced when the patient displays… 3 Disadvantages of home blood glucose testing. The disadvantages are mainly seen when either…