Blood glucose levels refer to the amount of glucose, or sugar, in your bloodstream. Glucose enters your bloodstream via carbohydrates. As your blood glucose levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin to allow the glucose to enter your body’s cells to be used for energy. If you have diabetes, your body either does not produce enough insulin or it cannot use it properly. Having too much glucose in your bloodstream can lead to serious complications. It’s important to check your levels regularly with your home medical supplies. Your doctor can demonstrate how to use your home medical supplies for diabetes, and you can also refer to the following guide.
Establish a Schedule
Work with your doctor to establish a schedule for using your home medical supplies to check your blood glucose levels. There are no standard recommendations because every patient’s needs are unique. In general, however, you’ll need to test more frequently if you have type one diabetes. The typical testing times include before and after meals, before going to sleep, and before and after working out. Some people may also need to test their levels during the night.
Check Your Levels
The specific method of testing your blood glucose will vary depending on the instructions in your meter kit and directions from your doctor. In general, however, you should wash your hands thoroughly before checking your blood glucose levels with your home medical supplies. Place a test strip into your blood glucose meter and prick your fingertip with the lance. Hold your fingertip to the test strip so that the blood droplet touches it. Keep your finger in this position until your test results appear.
Log Your Results
Write down your results in a logbook. Additionally, your doctor may ask you to keep records of your meals and activity level to evaluate the impact on your blood glucose levels. Compare your results to the target levels established by your doctor.
Make living with diabetes a little easier by ordering your home medical supplies online at ACG Medical Supply. In addition to meters and test strips, we offer diabetic foot care products. Call our showroom at 1-877-463-0737 or visit our website to view our line of medical supplies. We are here to help you!