Monitoring Blood Sugar Levels
An important part of managing your diabetes is knowing what your blood sugar levels are. This type of testing is called self-monitoring or home monitoring. Monitoring—and keeping a record of your blood sugar levels—can help you and your healthcare team set goals, or targets, for your blood sugar.
Good glucose control
To keep your blood sugar under control, it helps to monitor your levels regularly. Monitoring your blood sugar levels can help take the guesswork out of how much insulin your body needs. Your healthcare team will help you decide how often you should test. They will also teach you to use the test results to adjust your diet, exercise, and/or medication.
A new look at your treatment
When you were first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may have controlled your diabetes with physical activity and diet. But, for many people, a time comes when diet, physical activity, and even pills alone aren't enough. In spite of your best efforts, and the best efforts of your healthcare team, there's just not enough insulin working to get the job done. Sometimes, you may need to add the insulin your body needs to keep your blood sugar under control.
"Not being in control was like living under a rain cloud; only I didn't even realize that I was avoiding things. Insulin, in addition to diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications, helped me gain control. Because of this, my perspective changed."
Read more about Terry's Story >>
Important Safety Information for Insulin
Possible side effects may include blood sugar levels that are too low, injection
site reactions, and allergic reactions including itching and rash. Tell your doctor
about all other medicines and supplements you are taking because they can change
the way insulin works. Glucose monitoring is recommended for all patients with diabetes.
The health information contained herein is provided for general education purposes
only. Your healthcare professional is the single best source of information regarding
your health. Please consult your healthcare professional if you have any questions
about your health or treatment.
