Diabetes Testing
Diabetes Testing – Daily Routine
Diabetes Testing Patients and Patience
If you have read our page about Type I Diabetes, we discussed Diabetes Testing. You may recall we said,
” … it is necessary to be aware of blood sugar levels, patients become more or less accustomed to repeated, self-administered, ‘prick tests’, which draw minute blood samples to be tested on ultra-compact, portable, battery powered ‘glucose meters’, most of which not only display, but also store, the results, for later analysis of blood sugar levels over time.”
and
” ‘Normal’ life is possible with effective patient education, medical supervision, patient discipline in blood sugar level testing, and administration of insulin in a timely manner.
A patient with Type I diabetes is advised to maintain as closely as possible an average blood sugar level (BSL) of 4-6 mmol/l which is considered normal. The target BSL may be increased to about 7-7.5 mmol/l if a patient experiences frequent ‘hypos’ at lower levels.”
The quotations above explain why daily diabetes testing is appropriate for Type I patients. It should be understood that diabetes testing is good practice for Type II patients as well. For either patient, daily ‘prick tests’ enable the best chance of maintaining steady blood sugar levels. A Type I patient can administer insulin in the right dosage and at the right time based on information derived from diabetic blood testing.
Type II patients can avail themselves of the opportunity of taking exercise or adjusting their food intake based on data from prick testing.
It is also held that since regular testing can assist in maintaining recommended BSLs, it contributes to the avoidance of the more serious consequences of diabetes such as diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy and heart disease.
Above the writer referred to ” … later analysis of blood sugar levels over time” which may be done at home by the patient, by the doctor or by the manufacturer of the meter since the data may be downloaded to a PC using supplied software or over the net.
Daily diabetes testing need cause little inconvenience in practice, even if one were testing six or eight times a day. This is because the most modern ‘glucose meters’ are very compact, fitting easily into a pocket or purse. The process itself is also very quick and painless. The writer is a Type II diabetic who can self-test in under a minute. The pricking device is adjustable as to the depth of penetration of the ‘lancet’ or ’sharp’, so the pin prick itself need not be painful. The tool is even provided with an accessory allowing test samples to be drawn from places other than the fingertips.
The writer’s glucometer is automatic. The writer inserts a test strip into the device which then switches on and runs a check routine before indicating that it is ready for a blood sample. The test strip uses capillary action to draw in the most minute amount of blood and in a few seconds displays a BSL reading in mmol/l.
Modern glucometers are very small so there is no excuse not to carry your diabetes testing equipment with you when, for example, you are out for the day shopping or sightseeing, or dining out for lunch or dinner. Indeed, the ingestion of food causes near-immediate BSL reactions so Type I patients in particular should test and take insulin as required wherever they are when dining.
The compactness of the glucometer and the speed of the diabetes testing process is such that it can be done anywhere, discretely and unobtrusively.
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