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Introduction to meaningful blood glucose monitoring for type 2 diabetes

Introduction to meaningful blood glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is a long term condition where the body is unable to properly manage the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood (blood glucose/sugar levels). As someone with diabetes, everything that you do, eat and drink has an effect on your blood glucose. In the short term, high blood glucose levels can make you feel really low in energy. Over a longer period of time regular high blood glucose levels can increase your risk of serious complications, such as eye, kidney and foot problems. Because of this it is important for you to keep your blood glucose levels within a healthy range. This is done by balancing what you eat, your activity level and any medication you are prescribed to prevent your blood glucose from getting too high (hyperglycaemia) or too low (hypoglycaemia). There are two different ways to measure blood glucose levels:

  • HbA1c Test - This gives an idea of your average blood glucose level over the last 2-3 months, but does not show day to day variations. All people with diabetes should have this test at least once per year as part of their care.
  • Self-monitoring - Some people with type 2 diabetes will have a blood glucose meter they can use to check their glucose levels at home. This can help identify if blood glucose levels drop too low, as well as how blood glucose levels are affected by different factors; including food, drink, activity, illness and medication

If you are self-monitoring, there are a few things that you need to know which will help you monitor appropriately:

  • How to check your blood glucose accurately
  • When, how often to do it and why to monitor your blood glucose levels
  • What to do with the readings you get
  • How to motivate yourself to do it

Before making any changes to your lifestyle or medication, please speak to your healthcare professional to check it is suitable for you

The views expressed in the Accu-Chek blog are not necessarily those of Roche Diabetes Care Limited. The content is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely – you must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content. Although we make reasonable efforts to ensure that the content is up to date, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content is accurate, complete or up-to-date.

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26 January 2023