Blood Glucose Monitoring:

Blood Glucose Monitoring:

Blood glucose monitoring is the frequent and periodical monitoring of blood glucose levels. This is an essential aspect of the management of diabetes and is vital for self-management of diabetes. Blood glucose monitoring is done by measuring the blood glucose concentration during fasting, post meals, and randomly. This allows the care team to understand the fluctuations of blood glucose levels and the efficacy of the treatment. Upon maintaining a log of blood glucose readings over a period of time, the patient can provide valuable inputs to the doctors. The readings suggest further course of the treatment. Also, episodes of hypoglycemia can be effectively prevented. Doctors prescribe that ideally blood glucose monitoring should be done for people with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes on insulin dosages, women with gestational diabetes on insulin, and people who are on insulin pump therapy. However, people with type 2 diabetes who are on oral medications can also benefit from blood glucose monitoring. People who perform blood glucose monitoring should take readings once during fasting, once after breakfast, once before lunch, once after lunch, once before dinner and once after dinner. It is also important to take a sample once during 3: 00 AM. Blood glucose monitoring should be done thrice a day and samples should be collected alternatively every week during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The 3: 00 AM sample should be taken according to the instruction of the doctor. Blood glucose monitoring provides vital information to the medical team to assess the condition of the patient and the possibility of the occurrence of diabetes complications.