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Self Blood Glucose Monitoring

Monitoring your blood glucose

Effective control of diabetes is all about maintaining a satisfactory balance within the bloodstream and therefore it is necessary to regularly monitor blood glucose levels to know the amount of food and exercise and the dosage of insulin or tablets which will create that balance. Monitoring blood glucose is not a complicated procedure requiring complex equipment. It is something which can be fitted into usual activities, as part of a regular routine.

Your health professionals usually ask you to provide a record of your blood glucose levels, which will assist in the overall health management of your diabetes.

The main reasons for testing your blood glucose levels are:

  • To monitor the effectiveness of diabetes treatment and to serve as a guide for you and the doctor in planning adjustments of medication doses.
  • To learn the relationship between blood glucose, food, exercise and diabetes tablets/insulin
  • To identify inadequate control
  • To diagnose hypoglycaemia including nocturnal hypoglycaemia
  • To manage 'sick days' at home, and when recovering from an illness
  • To monitor the response to a new treatment schedule such as stabilisation on insulin
  • To achieve an acceptable blood glucose range, which may have a role in preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes related complications

How often should I test?

The number of tests and the target blood glucose range will be established in consultation with the diabetes team and will depend on the level of control, your age and the method of treatment.

If you have any problems which may make testing difficult (such as arthritis in the fingers and problems with your eyesight) they should be discussed with your diabetes educator to discuss such aids as meters with enlarged numbers which can help overcome these problems.

Guidelines for testing for type 2 diabetes

In general blood glucose should be tested before meals and, in some cases, 2 hours after eating to show how well the body has utilized the glucose in your food.

Some common schedules for people with type 2 diabetes, recommended by Diabetes Australia include:

  • Three or four tests each day - when diabetes is unstable or when treatment is being altered
  • Daily or twice daily - when diabetes is stable, changing the time of day when the test is done
  • Daily or twice daily test - two or three times per week - when diabetes is stable, especially for those not requiring medication
  • Every two hours for people during periods of illness.

Guidelines for testing when on insulin

Diabetes Australia recommends that people on insulin test four times per day including:

  1. Fasting (before breakfast)
  2. Before lunch
  3. Before dinner and
  4. At bedtime

It is also recommended that people on insulin test at extra times for example:

  • Before driving a motor vehicle, and regularly on long journeys
  • Have symptoms of hyper- or hypoglycaemia
  • Are unwell
  • Experience night sweats or morning headaches

Typical targets for blood glucose control

Recommended 4 – 6 mmol/L before meals
4 – 8 mmol /L after meals
Moderate levels 6 – 7 mmol/L before meals
Up to 11 mmol/L after meals
Above target levels More than 7mmol/L before meals
More than 11mmol/L after meals

These targets may be adjusted for individual needs and may vary according to lifestyle events (such as sport) or if you experience excessive hypo or hyperglycemia.

It is important you discuss targets with your doctor and diabetes team so they can be tailor made to suit your individual needs.

Where can I purchase my meter?

Meters may be purchased from Diabetes Australia or from the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) Sub-¬Agencies and pharmacies. You will be taught how to use these meters from the pharmacy or your diabetes educator

There are a variety of Blood Glucose Meters on the market. All companies provide lifetime warranty on the meters which are replaced generally at no cost regardless of the meter you purchase. The consumables i.e. test strips, are all subsidised through the NDSS. Contact your health fund to see if you are eligible for a rebate on the meter.