Medicine For Diabetics

Blood glucose monitoring refers to the ongoing measurement of blood sugar (glucose). Monitoring can be done at any time using a portable device called a glucometer.
See also:
Glucose test - blood
Glucose test - urine
Glucose tolerance test
How the Test is Performed
The traditional glucose meter comes with test strips, small needles called lancets, and a logbook for recording your numbers. There are many different kinds of these meters, but they all work essentially the same way.
A complete testing kit can be purchased from a pharmacy without a prescription. Your doctor or nurse can help you choose the equipment that's right for you, help you set it up, and teach you how to use it.
You will prick your finger with the lancet and place a drop of blood on a special strip. This strip uses a chemical substance to determine the amount of glucose in the blood. (Newer monitors can use blood from other areas of the body besides the fingers, reducing discomfort.) The meter displays your blood sugar results as a number on a digital display.
How to Prepare for the Test
Have all test items within reach before starting -- timing is important. Clean the needle prick area with soap and water or an alcohol swab. Completely dry the skin before pricking.
How the Test Will Feel
There is a sharp prick.
Why the Test is Performed
This test reveals your blood sugar level.
If you have diabetes, you can use it to carefully monitor your blood sugar levels at home. Regularly checking your blood sugar level is one of the most important steps you can take in managing the disease. It provides your doctor with important information regarding the control of your blood sugar.
When you keep track of your blood sugar you will:
Start to see patterns that will help you plan meals, activities, and what time of day to take your medications
Learn how certain foods affect your blood sugar levels
See how exercise can improve your numbers
Testing allows you to respond quickly to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This might include diet adjustments, exercise, and insulin (as instructed by your health care provider).
Your doctor may order a blood sugar test to screen for diabetes. For more information, see blood glucose test.
Normal Results
Before meals: 70 - 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
After meals: Less than 180 mg/dL
Values can vary depending on physical activity, meals, and insulin administration. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
Low levels indicate hypoglycemia. Have something to eat. You may need to change the next insulin dose, and possibly future insulin doses as well.
If levels are too high, this indicates hyperglycemia. You may need additional insulin.
Risks
There is a slight chance of infection at the puncture site. A small amount of bleeding may occur after the puncture.
Considerations
The correct procedure must be followed or the results will not be accurate.

Exercise is as important as any medicine for managing your diabetes and your health, in general. It can help in these ways:
It helps you lose weight, if you are overweight.
It helps prevent weight gain.
It lowers blood sugar without medicines.
It reduces your risk for heart disease.
It reduces stress.
Be patient. It may take several months after you start exercising before you see changes in your health.
Talk to Your Doctor First
While exercise can help you manage your diabetes, your doctor and nurse should make sure your exercise program is safe for you.
Call your doctor if:
You feel faint, have any chest pain, or feel short of breath when you exercise.
Your feet feel numb or painful, or you have sores or blisters on your feet.
Your blood sugar gets too low (less than 60 mg/dl) or too high (higher than 250 mg/dl) during the day.
If you take medicines that lower your blood sugar, exercise can make your blood sugar go too low. Ask your doctor or nurse for help planning your exercise program to prevent this problem.
Some types of exercise, such as heavy weight lifting, can make your eyes worse if you already have diabetic eye disease (retinopathy). Get an eye exam before starting an exercise program to make sure the exercise you choose will be safe for you.
Getting Started
Start slowly with a walking program. Walk for 5 or 10 minutes at first if you are out of shape.
Try to set a long-term goal of 30 to 45 minutes of fast walking at least 5 days a week. Do more if you can. Other aerobic exercises, such as swimming or exercise classes, are also good choices.
Wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace that says you have diabetes. Make sure coaches, teammates, and others you exercise with know you have diabetes. Always have fast-acting carbohydrates with you. Carry emergency phone numbers with you.
Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercising. Try to exercise at the same time of day, for the same amount of time, and at the same level of exertion. This will make your blood sugars easier to control.
Your Blood Sugar and Exercise
When you exercise, check your blood sugar often:
Before exercise
During exercise, if you are exercising for more than 45 minutes
Right after exercise and later on. Exercise can make your blood sugar drop 12 hours or more after you are done.
If you use insulin:
Ask your doctor about the best time to eat before exercise.
Do NOT inject your insulin in a part of your body that you are exercising (legs when running, arms when swimming).
Have a snack nearby that can raise your blood sugar quickly. Examples are:
5 or 6 hard candies
1 tablespoon sugar, plain or dissolved in water
1 tablespoon honey or syrup
3 glucose tablets
1/2 can regular, non-diet soda
1/2 cup fruit juice
Have a larger snack or more frequent snacks if you will be exercising harder than usual or for longer periods of time.
If exercising is causing a lot of low blood sugars, talk with your doctor. You may need to lower your insulin or other diabetes medicine dosage.
If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dl before starting to exercise, eat a snack first.
Do not exercise if your blood sugar is over 300 mg/dl. Talk with your doctor about how to get your diabetes in better control.
Your Feet and Exercise
You might not feel pain in your feet because of your diabetes. If you have a sore or blister, you may not notice it. Call your doctor for any changes on your feet. Small problems can become serious if they go untreated.
Always check your feet for any blisters, sores, lumps, redness, or cuts in the skin before and after exercise.
When you exercise wear:
Socks that draw moisture away from your feet.
Comfortable, well-fitting shoes made for the activity you are doing

You can live an active lifestyle when you take control of your own diabetes care. Still, everyone with diabetes must have regular health checkups and tests. These appointments will give you a chance to ask your doctor or nurse questions and learn more about diabetes.
See Your Doctor
See your diabetes doctor every 3 to 6 months. During this exam, your doctor should check your blood pressure, your weight, and your feet.
You will also need to see your dentist every 6 months.
Eye Exams

An eye doctor (called an ophthalmologist) should check your eyes at least once a year. If you have eye problems because of diabetes, you will probably see your eye doctor more often.
See also: Diabetes - eye care
Foot Exams
Your doctor should check the pulses in your feet and your reflexes at least once a year. The doctor should also look for calluses, infections, and sores. If you have had foot ulcers before, you should see your doctor every 3 to 6 months.
See also: Diabetes - taking care of your feet
Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C)
An HbA1C lab test reflects the average amount of sugar in your blood over the past 3 months. It shows how well you are controlling your diabetes. The normal level is less than 6%. Most people with diabetes should have an HbA1C of less than 7%. Higher numbers mean that your diabetes control is not as good.
Cholesterol
A cholesterol test measures how much cholesterol and triglycerides are in your blood. You will have the test on an empty stomach after not eating overnight.
Adults should have this test every year. If you are being treated for high cholesterol, you may have this test more often.
See also: Diabetes - preventing heart attack and stroke
Kidney Tests
Once a year, you will need a urine test that looks for a protein called "albumin." Because the test looks for small amounts of albumin, it is sometimes called a test for microalbuminuria. You will have more of this protein in your blood if you have early kidney damage due to diabetes. But, the level of this protein in urine can also be higher for other reasons.
Your doctor may also check your level of kidney function with a blood test every year.

Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With Type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With Type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood.
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes.
Symptoms of Type 2 diabetes may include fatigue, thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and frequent urination. Some people have no symptoms. A blood test can show if you have diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your glucose level and take medicine if prescribed.