March 10, 2006, Newsletter Issue #45: Using Your Blood Glucose Readings

Tip of the Week

The purpose of blood glucose monitoring is to learn how activity, meals, and medication are affecting your blood glucose levels.

Generally, you want your blood glucose values between 80 and 120. Evaluating your blood glucose readings can help you properly adjust your medications, diet and activity to keep you healthy and free of potential complications.

If you have Type I diabetes and your evening values tend to be high, look at your lunch meal. Increasing afternoon activity can help regulate this, as well. Morning insulin dosage may need to be adjusted if diet and activity changes do not lower your glucose readings.

For Type I, if your morning glucose values are high, look at your bedtime snack, and evening insulin dosage.

Since insulins have different lengths of activity, the intermediate or long-acting types give you better 24-hour coverage than sliding scale, with less fluctuations. This is a good place to focus when deciding on an insulin.

Short-acting insulin helps to regulate fluctuations in your sugars related to diet events, periods of illness or changes in physical activity.

For those with Type II diabetes, the focus is on food choices and activity.

Regardless of the type of diabetes that you have, talk to your doctor about how to best stabilize your blood sugars through the combination of diet, activity and medications.

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