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BLOOD SUGAR TEST RESULTS HELP YOU TAKE CONTROL

Testing your own blood sugar helps you take control of your health, especially once you learn what your test result numbers mean, and what to do with them. The Structured Testing Protocol (STeP) study, offers the proof. The study concluded that collecting the data of blood sugar test results, visualizing and understanding this data, and focusing treatment based on that data significantly reduced the HbA1C levels of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes over a 12-month period1.

Frequent testing gives you the data to make informed decisions about your medication, diet, and exercise regimens. It is a smart way to see how what you eat and what you do affects your blood glucose. Your test results inform the conversation you’ll have with your healthcare provider about setting target range goals for yourself, and they show how well you’re achieving them. It also helps you understand how to adjust your own oral medications or insulin dosage if your doctor has taught you how to do this yourself.

Overall, you’ll be better equipped to cope with the day-to-day demands of living with diabetes so you can feel better each day. And best of all, by doing all of this, you can lower your risk for future diabetes complications.2

BEST TIMES TO TEST

The standard times to test your blood sugar level include:3,4

  • Before breakfast (fasting)
  • Before lunch/dinner
  • Two hours after a meal
  • Before bed
  • Before and after rigorous exercise (and hours later)
  • When you don’t feel well

Other events that could require a blood sugar test include:

  • Changes to your routine while travelling
  • Changing or adjusting your insulin or medication
  • When you’re experiencing either high or low blood sugar symptoms
  • When you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant
  • Before and after surgical procedures
  • After dental procedures
  • When you are sick
  • While taking medications for your illness
  • While premenstrual

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR TESTING RESULTS

Any one of these things can raise or lower your blood glucose level. As you test, make a note of each result, noting what was happening at the time you ran the test. These events could include:

  • Exercising
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Ate a big meal, or were hungry
  • Insomnia or sleeping too much
  • Feeling stress or anxiety
  • Being in extreme temperatures, hot or cold
  • Testing at high altitudes
  • Being ill

SETTING A TARGET RANGE

It is best to ask your doctor, as everyone is different and unique and your goals may differ from the standard rage. Your doctor will set target blood sugar test results specifically for you, based on several factors including:

  • Whether you are type 1 or type 2
  • Your age
  • How long you've had diabetes
  • Pregnancy
  • If you have other diabetes-related complications
  • Your overall health, including other medical conditions you may have

The top two blood sugar ranges or “targets” are:

before_food_apple_-_reduced.png Fasting or before-meal blood sugar: This is your blood sugar number before a meal. It is usually your lowest number. It is best between 4.0 and 7.0 mmol/L.
high_res_png-20200205_product_advertising_eaten_apple_settings_rgb_ms.png After-meal blood sugar: This is your blood sugar number two hours after a meal. It is usually your highest number. It is best for your blood sugar readings to be lower than 10.0 mmol/L.

WHEN TO RE-TEST

Have your test results come back too high or too low, yet you feel just fine? Or are your test results on target, but you still don’t feel right? Don’t dismiss the results. Wash your hands, retest and see if you get the same numbers before you take action. Over days and weeks, compare your readings to previous ones.

TOOLS FOR UNDERSTANDING RESULTS

The Accu-Chek brand offers 2 simple tools to help you understand your blood sugar results

(a) Accu-Chek Testing in Pairs, on-paper diabetes management tools, or

(b) Download and pair your Accu-Chek Guide or Accu-Chek Instant meter with mySugr diabetes management app.  

Both can help you and your healthcare provider identify patterns for how things like stress, food, or exercise affect your test results.

TALK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER

Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to help you analyze your blood sugar test results. They will use this information to consider a number of options, such as adjusting your testing routine, ensuring that you’re testing correctly, suggesting changes to your self-management, or even ordering extra tests to explain any anomalies.

1. Diabetes Care Journals. Structured Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Significantly Reduces A1C Levels in Poorly Controlled, Noninsulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes -- Results from the Structured Testing Program study. Available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/2/262.full Accessed Feb 2022

2  International Diabetes Federation. Self-monitoring of blood glucose and Diabetes Education Modules 2011 - English  https://www.idf.org/e-library/guidelines/85-self-monitoring-of-blood-glu... Accessed Feb 2022

3. Singhealth HealthXchange.sg, How to monitor your blood sugar https://www.healthxchange.sg/diabetes/essential-guide-diabetes/diabetes-monitor-blood-glucose-levels Accessed Feb 2022.

4. Mayo Clinic, Blood Sugar Testing: Why, When and How https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/blood-s... Accessed Feb 2022