When people with diabetes can control their blood sugar (glucose), they are more likely to stay healthy. People with diabetes use two kinds of management devices:
- Glucose meters help people with diabetes check their blood sugar at home, school, work, and play.
- Diabetes management tests. Blood and urine tests reveal trends in diabetes management and help identify diabetes complications.
Without good control of blood sugar, diabetes can cause life-threatening events, such as severe hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis and even coma. Every person with diabetes can do several things to help control their blood glucose:
- Blood glucose testing
- Taking insulin via injection or an insulin pump
- Eat a healthy diet
- Get daily physical exercise
- Take diabetes medications as prescribed
- Check your feet daily
- Don’t smoke
The goal of diabetes management is to keep blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible. Thus, people with diabetes must learn to self-test their blood sugar on a regular basis. There are a number of aids and devices that are available to help people with diabetes control their insulin levels. Some of the diabetes supplies that a diabetic may need are:
- Insulin syringes
- Insulin pens
- Blood glucose monitors
- Lancing devices
- Lancets
- Test strips for measuring blood sugar in the urine.
Diabetes care should be designed for each individual patient. Some patients may need to test (monitor) more often than others do. How often you use your glucose meter should be based on the recommendation of your health care provider. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is recommended for all people with diabetes, but especially for those who take insulin. The role of self-monitoring of blood has not been defined for people with stable type 2 diabetes treated only with diet.
Your pharmacist can help you in deciding which product is right for you . Each product has its advantages (e.g. some devices require less blood and are more comfortable).