Checking your blood sugar is vital to maintaining your health if you have diabetes. Think of blood sugar checks as snapshots, and the more pictures you have in your scrapbook, the better your doctor can adjust your medications to keep your blood sugar under control. Making sure those snapshots are accurate is also important, and that's why Leigh Ann Brooks, Nursing Services Operational Lead, Diabetes Education, Parkview Regional Medical Center, is showing us how to properly check your blood sugar.
A few things to remember:
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Wash hands with soap and water prior to your check. Alcohol pads tend to cause hands to dry and crack, making the check more painful than it has to be.
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A fasting blood sugar should be between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL. About two hours after a meal, blood sugar should be less than 140 mg/dL.
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Always write down your blood/glucose level. Keep a notebook, and bring that and your meter with you to your doctors appointments. Your doctor may want to download the data from your meter.
If you have questions, or would like to enroll in diabetes education classes, you can call the Parkview Diabetes Treatment Center at 260-373-4280.
