Often, diabetics find themselves asking, "How often should I check my blood sugar?" The truth is, it depends on your individual health situation. If you are a Type 1 diabetic, you may find it necessary to monitor your blood sugar on a regular basis. If you are a Type 2 diabetic, it may be less frequent. You may also decide to wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to monitor your blood sugar. These devices are less painful to use than fingertip blood samples.
Managing your blood sugar and controlling your blood pressure can help to keep your kidneys healthy. However, when diabetes is left uncontrolled, it can lead to kidney damage.
Diabetic nephropathy, also known as kidney disease, is a condition in which the kidneys cannot filter enough blood. This leads to waste and fluid retention in the body. The kidneys are made up of millions of tiny filters called nephrons. These filters filter the blood and get rid of waste and fluid through the urine.
In some cases, high blood sugar can damage the glomeruli, which are the blood filters in the kidneys. If left untreated, this can lead to protein in the urine. Fortunately, treatment can reduce the damage to the kidneys, and slow down the progression of this disease.
Having high blood pressure also increases your risk of kidney damage. Your doctor can help you control your blood pressure. It's important to keep your pressure below 140/90 mm/Hg. You can also work with your doctor to find a blood pressure target that is suitable for you.
High blood sugar can damage the kidneys, as well as blood vessels and nerves. Your doctor may recommend changes to your lifestyle and treatment. Your doctor may also suggest medications, such as an ACE inhibitor, to help control your blood pressure.
High blood pressure increases your risk of kidney damage, as well as heart disease. High blood pressure medicines, such as ARBs, may help to slow the progression of kidney damage in people with diabetes.
Your doctor will also want to check for kidney damage if you have diabetes. This is done using blood tests. You should have your blood tested at least once a year, and twice if you have other health conditions. A blood test called hemoglobin A1C will give your doctor an estimate of how well your kidneys are working. A high hemoglobin A1C may indicate pre-diabetes or Type 2 diabetes.
There are five stages of diabetic nephropathy. Getting treatment as early as possible can prevent the progression of the disease, and help to preserve kidney function.
Keeping blood sugar levels in check when exercising is essential. This can prevent the dangerous condition of low blood sugar. A low blood sugar can cause seizures and nervous system damage. It is important to take action as soon as it is suspected.
The best way to prevent this is to check your blood sugar before and after exercise. It is also important to keep hydrated. You should drink water before you start your exercise session and at least one hour after. You should also have a small snack to keep your blood sugar level up.
A piece of fruit is an effective way to boost your blood sugar level. Another option is to drink a glass of fruit juice. Ideally, you should eat a small meal of 15-30 grams of carbohydrates before exercise. You should then carry fast-acting carbs with you in case you need a quick boost.
If you have type 1 diabetes, you may need to check your urine before you start an exercise session to make sure there aren't ketones in your system. If you do find out that you have ketones in your system, you should stop exercising.
For some people, exercise can have a positive effect on blood sugar. It may reduce the amount of insulin you need to take, which can improve your overall health. It may also lower your risk of heart disease. However, you should not exercise if you are not feeling well.
Your doctor or healthcare provider can give you advice on when is the best time to exercise. You should also make sure you have a personal diabetes management plan. You should test your blood sugar at least once a day, and more frequently during exercise. You should also check your blood sugar after exercise to see if your glucose levels are back in check.
It may be hard to adjust to exercising when you have diabetes, but it's important to start now. The benefits will come with time. And, once you've developed a routine, you will see that it's easier to keep track of your blood sugar.
Whether you are new to diabetes or have been managing your condition for years, it is important to keep up with your blood sugar levels. Monitoring your blood glucose levels can help you make better decisions about your treatment and improve your HbA1c.
There are several options for blood sugar testing including fingertip, alternate sites, and CGMs. Depending on your situation, one or more of these options may be more appropriate. You may also want to check with your healthcare provider to see which option is right for you.
The alternate site is a good choice if you find finger prick testing too painful. This is especially true if you have trouble getting a reliable blood sample. If you do use alternate sites, try to rotate them so that you do not experience sore fingers. If this does not work, consider changing up your skincare routine to help reduce the pain.
The best way to get the most out of your blood glucose monitoring is to read the instructions for your meter. You should also check out a couple of online stores to see which options are best. Make sure that the meter you are considering is a reliable one.
The palm of the hand is a good alternative site for blood glucose testing. This is due to the fact that glucose arrives at this site faster than in the other parts of the body. It is also an ideal site because it has capillaries. This makes it a good choice for testing blood glucose when the glucose levels are rising or falling rapidly.
Using alternate sites is also not a recommended option for pregnant women, those who have recently had surgery, or people with poor circulation. There are also concerns about scarring. Some people may also develop bruises when they lance an alternate site. This is especially true if the blood is lagging behind traditional finger prick tests by twenty minutes or more.
There are also other locations on the body that can be used as alternate sites for blood glucose testing. These include the arm, thigh, calf, or abdomen. However, these may not be the best locations to test your blood sugar.
Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you can benefit from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). These devices provide real-time glucose monitoring and help you get an early warning about sugar levels. They also help you better manage your diabetes. They reduce the risk of hypoglycemia and can even help you reach your blood sugar goals.
If you're considering getting a CGM, it's a good idea to talk to your doctor and your insurance company first. You'll also want to compare the various models available. Then, you can choose a device that suits your needs.
CGMs are a newer type of diabetes care device. They use a small sensor inserted under the skin to measure sugar in the blood. The sensor is then connected to a transmitter that sends real-time readings wirelessly to a monitor or tablet. Some CGMs can also send information directly to your smartphone. Some of these systems can even share data with your healthcare team or family members.
Most CGMs have an alarm that will sound when your sugar level is too low or too high. This is a good feature for keeping you safe during exercise or when your glucose levels fluctuate during the night. You'll need to replace the sensor every seven to fourteen days.
Most CGMs also have a graph showing glucose levels throughout the day and a trend line. This graph can help you to better understand how your diabetes affects you, and it can be a useful tool for making management decisions. You can also upload the logs from your fingerstick meter to the device.
It's also a good idea to talk to a certified diabetes care and education specialist to make sure you're using the device properly. You can also get a free CGM kit to help you learn more about your diabetes and how to use your meter.
You may also need to use fingersticks to calibrate your CGM system. You'll also need to test your urine if you feel sick, or if your glucose level is above 250 to 300 mg/dL.