Introduction: Diabetes, a seemingly simple term, actually contains complex changes in sugar metabolism in the body, it is not a problem of urine sugar, but an abnormal metabolism of sugar in the blood.
Back in ancient times, due to technological limitations, people could not accurately measure blood sugar concentrations, and the disease could only be named by observing the symptoms of severe illness, such as the sweet smell of urine.
For every diabetic patient, whether it is choosing to control the diet, actively participate in exercise, or strictly follow the doctor's instructions to take medication, the core purpose is to maintain the stability of blood sugar, so the monitoring of blood sugar is particularly important.
Blood glucose monitoring is like a compass that provides us with direction and helps us determine the effectiveness of regulatory strategies, however, many people are often intimidated or even resistant to blood glucose monitoring.
The reason for this is not difficult to understand, after all, the discomfort caused by acupuncture of the skin is difficult to ignore, and because of this discomfort, some patients will choose to reduce the frequency of blood sugar testing, and some even only test once or twice a week.
However, such frequency of monitoring is extremely detrimental to glycemic control, as it may not only miss the optimal time for regulation, but also exacerbate the progression of the disease.
Understand how blood sugar fluctuates
Blood sugar fluctuations are a complex and important physiological phenomenon that fluctuates throughout the day with time, diet, activity, and other factors.
Understanding the pattern of blood sugar fluctuations can help to better control blood sugar levels and prevent and delay the onset of diabetes and its complications.
In the morning, as the body wakes up, hormone secretion and metabolic activity gradually resume, blood sugar levels begin to rise, around breakfast, the intake of food stimulates the secretion of insulin, further raising blood sugar, and in the morning hours, blood sugar levels will gradually drop due to digestion, absorption and metabolism.
At noon, blood sugar levels rise again with lunch, and after lunch, they remain high for a period of time and then gradually decrease.
In the afternoon, blood sugar levels remain relatively stable due to the body's metabolism and hormone regulation. However, in the early evening, as dinner is ingested and digested, blood sugar levels rise again, and after dinner, blood sugar levels remain high for a period of time and then gradually decrease.
During the night hours, blood sugar levels remain relatively low due to the body's metabolic and hormone regulation, but in the early hours of the morning, blood sugar levels rise again as insulin secretion decreases and glucagon increases.
How important is blood sugar measurement for blood sugar control?
Blood glucose measurement plays a crucial role in diabetes management, and by monitoring blood sugar regularly, patients can better understand their blood sugar status, adjust their treatment plan in time, and avoid the occurrence of high and low blood sugar.
1. Blood glucose measurement can help patients detect abnormal blood sugar in time
In the early stages of diabetes, patients may have no obvious symptoms, but by measuring blood sugar regularly, blood sugar abnormalities can be detected early and measures can be taken to control the condition in time.
In addition, for patients with diagnosed diabetes, regular blood glucose measurement can monitor the effectiveness of treatment and provide doctors with a basis for adjusting treatment regimens.
2. Blood glucose measurement helps to prevent complications
Long-term hyperglycemia can lead to a series of complications, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, neuropathy, etc., by monitoring blood glucose, patients can detect abnormal blood sugar in time and take measures to control blood sugar, thereby reducing the risk of complications.
3. Blood glucose measurement can also help patients develop good living habits
By monitoring blood sugar, patients can learn which foods cause blood sugar to rise and adjust their diet. At the same time, regular blood glucose measurement can also remind patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle, such as proper exercise and weight control.
What are the differences in the number of daily blood glucose checks for diabetic patients with different symptoms?
The number of daily blood sugar checks for people with diabetes is mainly determined by their symptoms, blood sugar control, and their doctor's recommendations, but here are some common situations where people with diabetes may need to check their blood sugar:
Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes
For patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, or those with large fluctuations in blood sugar and are adjusting the dose of medications, it is recommended to measure blood glucose between 4 and 7 times a day.
This may include blood glucose before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, before lunch, 2 hours after lunch, before dinner, 2 hours after dinner, and before bedtime, so that blood glucose trends can be better understood so that treatment can be adjusted in a timely manner.
Diabetic patients with good blood sugar control
For those diabetic patients who have achieved almost satisfactory glycemic control and are in stable disease, the frequency of blood glucose testing can be slowed, and in general, fasting blood glucose and two-hour postprandial blood glucose can be measured once a week.
The basic blood glucose target means that the fasting blood glucose is controlled at 6.5-7.5mmol/L, the blood glucose value is controlled at 7.5-8.5mmol/L two hours after meals, and the glycosylated hemoglobin is controlled at 6.3%-6.5%.
Diabetic patients with complications or emergency status
If diabetic patients have complications such as lung infection, skin infection, urinary tract infection, diabetic foot, or are in an emergency state such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis, coronary heart disease, etc., the frequency of blood glucose testing should be increased.
Fasting and two-hour postprandial blood glucose should be measured at least every three days, and in severe cases, blood glucose may need to be measured seven times a day.
Do you have to test your blood sugar 6 times a day for diabetes?
People with diabetes may need to have their blood sugar checked 6 times a day, depending on their condition and treatment options.
Blood glucose monitoring is essential for the management of diabetes, as it can help patients understand their blood sugar fluctuations and adjust their diet, exercise and medication in time to avoid the occurrence of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
Fasting blood glucose
This refers to the blood sugar level before breakfast and is usually measured immediately after waking up in the morning, and fasting blood glucose can reflect the patient's blood sugar control and liver glucose output during the night.
Blood sugar 2 hours after breakfast
This refers to the blood sugar level 2 hours after breakfast, which can reflect the patient's blood sugar fluctuations after a meal, as well as the effect of food on blood sugar.
Blood sugar before lunch
This is usually a blood sugar level measured about 30 minutes before lunch, and it can reflect the patient's blood sugar control and the effectiveness of medication in the morning.
Blood sugar 2 hours after lunch
Similar to blood glucose 2 hours after breakfast, this refers to the blood glucose level 2 hours after lunch, and the blood glucose at this point can reflect the patient's blood sugar fluctuations after lunch.
Blood sugar before dinner
This is usually a blood sugar level measured about 30 minutes before dinner, and it can reflect the patient's blood sugar control and medication effects in the afternoon.
Blood glucose 2 hours after dinner or blood sugar before bedtime
This refers to the blood glucose level 2 hours after dinner, or alternatively, can be measured at bedtime, which can reflect the patient's blood sugar fluctuations after dinner, as well as the blood sugar level at night.
By measuring blood sugar at these 6 time points, diabetics can better understand their blood sugar fluctuations and adjust their treatment plan in time to keep their blood sugar within the target range.
However, the exact number and timing of blood glucose measurements should be determined on an individual basis and on the advice of a physician, and treatment is individualized for each diabetic patient, so the blood glucose monitoring regimen will vary.
To what standard can I measure blood sugar without pricking my fingers every day?
What criteria do you have to meet to stop pricking your fingers every day to measure your blood sugar? This is a question that people with diabetes are very concerned about.
First of all, it is important to be clear that the criteria for stopping finger prick blood glucose measurement are not set in stone, but are individualized and need to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
For patients with newly diagnosed diabetes, blood glucose fluctuations need to be monitored more frequently to understand the condition and control it. At this time, it may be necessary to prick your finger several times a day to measure your blood glucose, and as the condition stabilizes and is controlled, the blood sugar fluctuations gradually decrease, and the frequency of monitoring can be gradually reduced.
In general, when glycemic control is stable and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels remain within the ideal range, consider reducing the frequency of finger prick blood glucose measurements.
HbA1c is an indicator that reflects the average blood glucose level of the patient in the past three months, and the normal value is generally between 4% and 6%, if the HbA1c level is properly controlled, it means that the patient's blood glucose level is relatively stable, and the frequency of monitoring can be reduced.
Measuring blood sugar is too troublesome, can it be replaced by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)?
Measuring blood glucose is indeed a tedious task, and the importance of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as a potential surrogate indicator cannot be ignored.
Glycosylated hemoglobin is an important indicator to assess blood glucose control, it can reflect the patient's average blood glucose level in the 2-3 months before blood draw, the normal value is 4%-6%, and the control target should be less than 6.5%, compared with a single blood glucose test, glycosylated hemoglobin can more comprehensively reflect the overall status of blood glucose.
If a blood glucose level is elevated but glycosylated hemoglobin remains normal, it indicates that recent glycemic control is acceptable, and conversely, even if a single blood glucose level is normal, a high glycosylated hemoglobin indicates that recent glycemic control needs to be strengthened.
During treatment, doctors usually recommend that patients have glycosylated hemoglobin testing every three months initially, which can be extended to every six months when glycemic control is stable, although glycosylated hemoglobin is an important basis for evaluating long-term glycemic control, it is not a substitute for routine blood glucose testing.
Daily blood glucose testing can be helpful in adjusting treatment regimens, for example, insulin users may have large fluctuations in blood glucose status over time.
Relying solely on glycosylated hemoglobin results may overlook some important blood glucose changes that can affect appropriate adjustment of insulin dosage, so glycosylated hemoglobin and daily blood glucose testing have their own unique roles and should complement each other, rather than relying solely on glycosylated hemoglobin to assess overall glycemic control.
When measuring blood sugar, grasp these 4 details, and the pain will be greatly reduced
Choose the right lancet
The thickness and sharpness of the lancet has a big impact on the sensation of pain, and choosing a thinner and sharper lancet can reduce the damage to the skin and thus reduce the pain.
Spot disinfection
Alcohol is used to disinfect the blood collection site before blood collection, which not only reduces the risk of infection, but also makes the blood collection process smoother and less painful.
Press correctly
After blood collection, correct pressure on the blood collection site can reduce pain, and pressing the blood collection site with a sterile cotton ball or cotton swab with moderate pressure can avoid bleeding and pain.
Avoid reusing lancets
Lancets are single-use, and repeated use increases the risk of infection and can also make pain worse, so a new lancet should be used every time the blood is collected.
If you are over 60 years old, does an excess blood sugar mean diabetes?
As we all know, glucose is the main source of energy for the human body, and blood sugar refers to the concentration of glucose in the blood, which is an important indicator for the evaluation of diabetes in medicine.
However, the glycemic index is not a fixed value, but constantly changes with factors such as human characteristics, activity, and diet, and in healthy people, as long as it is maintained within a certain range, it will not cause disease.
This range can be divided into three criteria according to the influencing factors: the fasting blood sugar health standard is about 3.9 mmol/L, the human blood glucose index will spike 1 hour after a meal, but usually does not exceed 6.7-9.4 mmol/L, and the 2 hours after a meal will gradually decline and stabilize below 7.8 mmol/L.
Therefore, when many elderly people find that their blood sugar level is 6.3, they will feel very worried and wonder if they have diabetes.
However, even if the blood sugar level of the elderly exceeds the standard value, the doctor may say that no treatment is needed, because it has been found in medical studies that the physical function of the elderly gradually declines as they age, and pancreatic function is no exception.
Therefore, the levels of hormones such as insulin and glucagon in the body of the elderly will also be affected, resulting in a certain difference in the glycemic index from that of the younger generation.
For the elderly over 60 years old, the glycemic index can refer to two standards: fasting blood glucose 8-9 mmol/L and postprandial blood glucose 11 mmol/L.
As long as the pre- and postprandial blood sugar levels of the elderly are maintained within this range, they do not need to worry too much, and of course, if the elderly have other symptoms, they need to seek medical attention in time for investigation of the cause.
Pay attention to the changes in your body, the 3 symptoms or the "signs" of diabetes, and find out diabetes in time
Polyuria
In people with diabetes, blood sugar levels are elevated, and the kidneys are unable to fully absorb glucose, resulting in increased sugar in the urine, which in turn causes polyuria.
thirst
Polyuria can lead to water loss in the body, which in turn can lead to thirst, and if you often feel dry and need to drink water frequently, it can be a symptom of diabetes.
Hunger
People with diabetes have insufficient or blocked insulin secretion, causing cells to not make full use of glucose, resulting in hunger, and if you feel hungry often, even if you have just eaten, it can be a sign of diabetes.
Weight lowering
Although people with diabetes often feel hungry, because their cells are not fully utilizing glucose, the body is actually burning fat and muscle for energy, resulting in weight loss, which can be a symptom of diabetes if you find yourself losing weight while eating a normal diet.