BG Measurements: The Best Choices Now

Blood glucose measurement is an important part of a diabetic’s daily life. These guidelines will help you to reliably measure your blood sugar. Blood glucose is a measure of the amount of glucose in the blood, called blood sugar, at a given time. Blood glucose is expressed as a concentration measured in millimoles per liter.

• Normally, blood glucose levels remain within a narrow range during the day (approximately 4-8 mmol / l). It is at its highest after eating and usually at its lowest when getting up in the morning.

A person with diabetes may sometimes have too high or too low blood sugar levels compared to normal values. The reason is that normal blood sugar control in the body is not working.

For this reason, the blood glucose is reduced to a normal level by a glucose-lowering drug (insulin or tablets). Dietary carbohydrates are the most important contributors to high blood sugar.

Treatment of high blood sugar

When blood glucose levels are too high, it is important to get treatment to normalize the situation. When the goal is achieved, “acute” symptoms of diabetes, such as excessive drinking and urination, are avoided. It also prevents ketoacidosis (acid poisoning), which can be a life-threatening condition. Now measuring your bg levels  you can find the best deal.

In the long run, the risk of developing diabetes after diabetes is also reduced. These so-called late complications affect blood circulation, nerve function, eyes and kidneys. If the disease has affected the nerves (neuropathy), which usually results in reduced blood circulation, the person is at an increased risk for poorly healing diabetic foot ulcers.

One important goal of treatment is to keep your blood sugar stable. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels up and down are undesirable. Particularly low blood sugar levels are a cause for concern for patients. These hypoglycaemias or Insulin sensations may seem uncomfortable, but they can also cause loss of consciousness and, in very serious cases, brain damage.

How is my blood sugar measured?

Blood glucose measurement is very easy and fast with a variety of tools. There are several types of blood glucose meters and they have their own measuring strips.

The measurement is performed by first inserting a measuring strip into the measuring device, then inserting itself into a finger or forearm with a lancet and allowing the measuring strip to absorb a small amount of blood. After a few seconds, the sugar value is read from the meter.

Blood glucose meters are sold cheaply, and measuring strips and lancets are free aids.

This development is constantly evolving. Today, there are several products on the market where different sensors measure blood glucose either continuously or using a wireless meter. This way, the diabetic person does not have to inject themselves each time they measure their blood sugar.

Ideal blood sugar levels are as follows:

• 4-6 mmol / l before meals
• less than 10 mmol / l after a meal (about 1.5 hours)
• An increase of no more than 2 mmol / l after 1.5 hours compared to pre-meal measurement
• about 7-10 mmol / l at bedtime in type 1 diabetes, preferably less than 7 mmol / l in type 2 diabetes.