Diabetes is a chronic disease and therefore certain steps must be taken to ensure that this condition is continuously monitored so that it never goes out of control. The levels of blood sugar can always be monitored by making according modifications in one’s diet and usual lifestyle. This way one can lead a healthy and problem-free life. But then the question is why should one monitor blood sugar level? Even this obvious question has a very logical answer behind it.
If you do not monitor your blood sugar then there are many conditions that will make your life a veritable living hell. There are both long term and short effects. In the short term, conditions like weakness, tiredness, blurry vision and excessive urges to urinate. The long term effects are more serious and the conditions include retinopathy (leading to loss of vision), nephropathy (imminent kidney failure), cardiac problems as well as nerve-related problems which can lead to loss of limbs or amputation.
Now it is time for the next important question. How should one monitor one’s blood sugar levels? There are many ways to do so. Here are the following steps
- Firstly, you should always take your blood sugar levels both before and after your meals. And these tests should be taken on different days. Pre-meal tests should be taken in the morning before any food is consumed. After meal tests should be taken about two hours after the meal.
- If you are taking the bed time sugar tests then this should be between the levels of 10o and 140 mg/dl. If the sugar levels at bed time are less than 100 mg/dl, then you should eat a snack with carbohydrates before sleeping. If the 5:00 pm test shows a level less than 80 mg/dl, then you might just get hypoglycemia at night.
- Always exercise and keep active and make it a point to check the level of blood sugar just before you exercise. If you see that the level is below 90 mg/dl then it is advisable to take a carbohydrate snack and also check the insulin dosages that you are taking.
- Remember that if there is a difference of less than 50 mg/dl between the pre-meal and the post-meal tests then it is a sign of a good diet that you are following.
- If your blood sugar level is higher than 240 mg/dl, then you are definitely going wrong somewhere with your diet. Also take a good look at the medication that has been prescribed to you by your doctor. Start exercising but then again, do not exercise too hard. That will have a negative effect again.
You should also have a monitoring device that will monitor the levels of glucose in your blood. Always make sure that your monitoring device has Auto Coding, Results Flagging, Small Pricking Device, Temperature Sensor and so on. All these should be present in any good device for testing the levels of sugar in your blood.
Tags: cardiac problems, chronic disease, Diabetes, levels of blood sugar, monitor your blood sugar
