How can diabetics self-monitor blood sugar?

Blood glucose monitoring is one of the important components of the "five carriages" in diabetes treatment. It can help people with diabetes better understand their disease status, detect hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in a timely manner, guide diet, exercise and optimize drug treatment plans, and improve The effectiveness and safety of the treatment also make it easier to communicate with the doctor about the condition. However, many people with diabetes do not have enough understanding of the importance of blood sugar monitoring. They only judge their condition based on their self-feeling and symptoms, and do not monitor blood sugar when there is no discomfort. People with diabetes who are able to self-monitor often suffer from improper methods, time and frequency. And affect the accuracy and validity of the results. To self-monitor blood sugar correctly and effectively, diabetics need to gain the following skills:

 

Step 1: Choose a reliable home blood glucose meter. There are many types of home blood glucose meters currently on the market. People with diabetes should consider the following factors when choosing:

 

Accuracy: When purchasing, you should check the evaluation report on the manual of the blood glucose meter to see whether it meets national standards and whether it has strong resistance to internal and external interference.

 

Convenience: whether the operation is simple and easy to learn, whether code adjustment is required, whether the numerical display is clear, whether the battery replacement is convenient, whether there is a memory storage function, etc.

 

After-sales service: Look for regular manufacturers, which can not only ensure the long-term supply of test strips, but also provide better after-sales service to facilitate the calibration of the blood glucose meter (every time you use a new test strip, after replacing the battery, or when you suspect that the blood glucose meter is inaccurate, please needs to be corrected).

 

Step 2: Master the correct blood sugar measurement method. The measurement method directly affects the accuracy of the results. People with diabetes should pay attention to the following details when self-monitoring blood sugar: Correct blood collection method: wash your hands and dry them with warm water before collecting blood, and use alcohol (not iodine-containing Disinfectant) and wait until dry. Allow the arm to hang naturally for a moment at the blood collection site. Use a blood collection pen to collect blood on both sides of the fingertip (the nerve endings on both sides of the finger are less distributed and the pain will be lighter). The blood glucose meter operates correctly: Insert the test strip into the blood glucose meter. Do not touch the test area and blood-sucking area of the test strip. When the blood drop symbol flashes on the display, lightly touch the blood-sucking area of the test strip to the blood drop to absorb a sufficient amount at one time. Blood sample volume. Store the test paper properly: The test paper should be stored in a dry and clean place, sealed and not exposed to the air for too long. Pay attention to the expiration date of the test paper.

 

Step 3: Master the correct blood sugar monitoring time. The blood sugar values at each time point have different meanings. People with diabetes should choose according to their condition: fasting blood sugar refers to overnight blood sugar at 6-7 a.m. and without eating for 8-10 hours. Fasting blood sugar reflects the basal secretion of insulin, and can also reflect whether taking medication the night before can control blood sugar until the next morning. Fasting blood sugar serves as the starting point for blood sugar changes throughout the day and has a predictive effect on postprandial blood sugar levels. Premeal blood sugar refers to blood sugar before lunch and dinner. Reflects the persistence of the secretory function of pancreatic islet B cells. Pre-meal blood sugar can guide patients to adjust the amount of insulin injected or oral medication before meals, and can also detect asymptomatic hypoglycemia. When blood sugar levels are high or there is a risk of hypoglycemia (elderly people and those with better blood sugar control), blood sugar needs to be measured before three meals. The 2-hour postprandial blood sugar refers to the 2-hour blood sugar after breakfast, lunch, and dinner starting from the first bite of food. It mainly reflects the status of insulin secretion during meals and evaluates the effect of drug treatment to adjust the drug treatment plan. Fasting blood sugar is well controlled, but glycated hemoglobin is still not up to standard. You should pay attention to blood sugar 2 hours after a meal. Bedtime blood sugar refers to the blood sugar measured before going to bed at night. It is used to judge the effect of drug treatment and whether extra meals are needed to prevent hypoglycemia. It is suitable for patients who inject insulin, especially medium and long-acting insulin. Early morning blood sugar refers to blood sugar between 2 and 4 am. It is suitable for people whose blood sugar is close to reaching the target after treatment, but whose fasting blood sugar is still high, or who is suspected of having nocturnal hypoglycemia. It can identify the cause of fasting high blood sugar (Heumje's phenomenon/dawn phenomenon). Random blood glucose refers to blood glucose at any time other than the above specified blood glucose monitoring time. When symptoms of hypoglycemia occur, before driving, before and after strenuous exercise, when you have a cold or fever, or when you have a mood swing, you should promptly measure random blood sugar to capture blood sugar changes under special circumstances at any time.

 

Step 4: Choose an appropriate blood glucose monitoring plan. The frequency and time of blood glucose monitoring should be determined according to the actual needs of the patient's condition. Diabetes patients can choose the following monitoring plan: Insulin intensive treatment blood glucose monitoring plan for patients: Insulin intensive treatment (multiple times) Patients who receive insulin injection or insulin pump treatment should monitor their blood sugar 5 to 7 times a day at the beginning. It is recommended to cover fasting, before and after three meals, and before going to bed. If there are symptoms of hypoglycemia, blood sugar should be measured at any time. If unexplained fasting hyperglycemia or nocturnal hypoglycemia occurs, blood glucose should be monitored at 2 to 3 o'clock at night. After reaching the treatment goal, monitor blood sugar 2 to 4 times a day, mainly covering fasting and bedtime blood sugar, and postprandial blood sugar if necessary. Blood glucose monitoring plan for patients treated with premixed insulin twice a day. Patients using premixed insulin should monitor fasting blood glucose 3 times a week and 3 times a week before dinner before the blood glucose reaches the target, and follow up every 2 weeks; every week after the blood glucose reaches the target. Monitor blood sugar three times: fasting, before dinner and after dinner. The blood glucose spectrum will be measured at 5 additional time points one day before the follow-up visit, and the follow-up visit will be once a month. Blood glucose monitoring plan for patients treated with basal insulin. Patients using basal insulin should monitor fasting blood glucose 3 times a week before the blood glucose reaches the target, and follow up every 2 weeks; after the blood glucose reaches the target, monitor blood sugar 3 times a week, that is: fasting, after breakfast and dinner. back. The blood glucose spectrum was measured at 5 additional time points 1 day before the follow-up visit, and the follow-up visit was conducted once a month. Short-term intensive monitoring plan for non-insulin-treated patients Short-term intensive blood glucose monitoring is suitable for situations such as frequent symptoms of hypoglycemia, stress states such as infection, and adjustment of treatment plans. The monitoring plan is 3 days a week, monitoring blood glucose at 5 to 7 time points every day, including before meals, after meals and before going to bed. After sufficient blood glucose data are obtained and corresponding treatment measures are taken, it can be reduced to an alternating blood glucose monitoring plan. .

 

Step 5: Make good blood sugar monitoring records. Good blood sugar monitoring records can help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar. Bringing blood sugar monitoring records to medical appointments can make it easier to communicate with doctors about your condition and provide a basis for adjusting treatment plans. The record content should include: blood glucose monitoring time, blood glucose value, food intake and eating time, amount of exercise and exercise time, medication amount and time, insulin amount and injection time, records of some special events, such as diarrhea, fever, etc. Have you acquired all of the above skills?