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Blood sugar monitoring and testing is absolutely essential for both the diagnosis of diabetes and for managing the condition effectively. Most people assume that blood sugar testing and monitoring requires clinical visits and regular health checks, but this isn’t necessarily the case. You can also do diabetes tests at home today, using them to keep a check on sugar levels and measure the efficacy of your diabetes treatment. Diabetes home tests can also be used to track blood sugar levels if you are at risk of developing the condition or have experienced any symptoms of diabetes.
Who Should Use Home Blood Sugar Levels Tests?
Your doctor will be the best judge of whether you should test for diabetes at home and can also provide you with instructions on the frequency of testing and appropriate timings. Recommendations for the use of blood sugar levels tests are recommended for individuals who have:
Type-1 diabetes
Type-2 diabetes
Gestational diabetes
Prediabetes
Symptoms of diabetes
A test for diabetes at home is not so much about diagnosis, as it is about tracking blood sugar levels to keep them within a safe range. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), optimal blood glucose levels fall between the range of 70 and 140 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
How To Test Blood Sugar Levels At Home?
Standard diabetes home tests or blood glucose kits come with testing strips that can be read by the device. To use the device for a reading, you need to obtain a small blood sample with a prick of a small needle or lancet, smearing the blood onto the strip. The device can then measure blood sugar levels from the testing strip.
Not every home blood sugar testing device works in exactly the same manner and so it’s important to read instructions carefully or seek guidance from your doctor. Once you’re sure of the steps required, you can follow these practices for home testing.
Make sure to sanitize or wash and dry your hands thoroughly before handling the testing kit
Also cleanse the testing area thoroughly and allow it to dry before taking a sample.
Most glucose monitors for diabetes tests at home require testing from the arm or finger as rapid blood sugar changes may not be detected accurately in areas that are less sensitive.
When using the finger for samples, make sure to extract the blood sample from the side of the finger and use different fingers each time.
Position your finger against a stable surface and apply the lance using steady but not excessive pressure.
Squeeze the finger gently to allow a drop of blood to fall onto the testing strip.
For best use of any diabetes home tests, make it a point to keep an accurate record of test results, including meals consumed and meal timings, as well as the timing of blood sugar readings. This will help you and your doctor to establish a pattern between blood sugar levels and food consumption.
When To Test Blood Sugar Levels At Home?
Although blood monitoring schedules are personalized for patients with diabetes, generally testing is recommended at three specific times over a span of days. These include:
Morning fasting reading: This is done to obtain information on blood sugar levels before the consumption of foods or fluids to obtain a baseline number.
Before meals: Under normal circumstances blood sugar levels should be low before meals, so a high reading suggests impaired blood sugar management.
Post meals: Testing after meals provides important information on how effectively your body is able to process glucose and is best conducted roughly 2 hours after a meal.
Keep in mind that while home testing for diabetes and blood sugar levels is empowering and gives you some degree of control, it is not adequate for the diagnosis or management of diabetes. Make it a point to record and report all test results to your doctor for an accurate diagnosis or treatment recommendations.
