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The Need for Blood Glucose Monitoring and Record
The Need for Blood Glucose Monitoring and RecordKeepingMonitoring your blood glucose regularly and keeping a record of your readings are important tools whenmanaging your diabetes.Monitoring your blood glucose means checking the amount of glucose, a form of sugar, that is in yourbloodstream.It is important to monitor your blood glucose on a regular basis. Your diabetes care team can tell you how oftenyou should monitor your blood glucose.Checking your blood glucose and keeping complete records will help you and your diabetes care team knowhow well your food choices, physical activity, and medications, are working together throughout the day.Work with your diabetes care team to determine a healthy range for your glucose based on your health, age,activity level and other factors. This is called your target home blood glucose goal.Once you have set your goals, check your blood glucose on a regular basis.These checks may be your only way of knowing whether your blood glucose is in your target range day to day.Keep careful and complete records of your blood glucose checks.Your records may include: date, time and result of blood glucose check; medication---type, dose, and timetaken; as well as comments about anything that may have affected your blood glucose level, like dining out,missing your evening walk, catching a cold, forgetting a dose of medication, exercising more than usual,skipping a meal, or any other break from your routine.Some blood glucose records also include information on what you eat, so you can see how your food choicesaffect your blood glucose.You can use a logbook to write down your results and comments. Some meters can record your results andcomments and let you load the information to a computer so you can send them directly to your healthcareprovider.And you can use an online website or mobile app to keep you and your diabetes care team up to date on yourblood glucose results.Together you can use this information to help keep your blood glucose in your target range. Checking yourblood glucose helps keep you in the driver’s seat with your diabetes.“It's always good to have this with you when you go to your doctors. I think for me that's the mostbeneficial, because I don't like to write on paper. You don't have paper with you all the time, but mostpeople have their cellphones with them all the time.”If you only check your glucose once in a while or wait for your doctor to check it, it’s like only being able to seea portion of a picture. Many people check their blood glucose more than once a day to get a complete picture.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCDB10028B EN TheNeedForBloodGlucoseMonitoringAndRecordKeeping.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 1 of 2The Need for Blood Glucose Monitoring and RecordKeepingIf you have a lot of results higher or lower than your target range, your diabetes team can help you figure outwhy.Having too much glucose in your blood over a period of time can cause very serious long-term healthproblems.These health problems include: heart attack, stroke, circulation problems, kidney disease, eye disease, andnerve disease.“It is very important to utilize your meter and all tools, but especially your meter, to check your glucose.Because diabetes affects everyone differently. So you have to know what's your triggers, what are yourplusses that work well for you. And you cannot discover that without checking.”When you know the reason your blood glucose is out of range, you and your diabetes care team can makeadjustments to your management plan to help you achieve your blood glucose goals.Keeping your blood glucose in your target range can help you feel better now and also help prevent or delaythe long-term complications of diabetes.Although Diabetes is complex, it’s manageable when you have the right information and support. Diabeteseducators are trained to be your diabetes expert and can help you learn how to successfully thrive withdiabetes. You deserve nothing less!Ask your provider for a referral today! Find one at www.DiabetesEducator.org/find.This program is for informational purposes only. Publisher disclaims all guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness,or suitability of this video for medical decision making. For all health related issues please contact your healthcare provider.HCDB10028B EN TheNeedForBloodGlucoseMonitoringAndRecordKeeping.pdf© The Wellness NetworkPage 2 of 2
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