Monday, June 08, 2009
Monitors can help diabetes patients manage their disease
When managing your diabetes, you may think the only thing you need to do is watch what you eat.
But knowing what your blood sugar level is also is important. In order to keep track of these levels, it is important to monitor your blood sugar using a blood glucose meter.
Learning to use this important tool will help you know the influence of foods, medications and activity on your diabetes. You will also be able to notice any patterns in your blood sugar levels and when you may need to call the doctor for a change in your treatment plan.
Before taking a prescription for a blood sugar meter to the pharmacy, give your insurance company a call and find out if there is a particular brand that will make it more cost efficient for to test on a consistent basis. Some insurance companies have a relationship with a particular medical supplier that will actually make it much cheaper and easier to obtain diabetes supplies.
Once you have your blood sugar equipment in hand, learn how to use the equipment in the proper way. Here are the questions to consider:
1) How do I operate the meter, including calibration, if necessary?
2) How do I obtain an adequate blood sample?
3) What are all of the supplies used for that I have obtained with the meter?
4) How do I care and store the device and the supplies?
5) How do I properly dispose of the lancets?
6) Where do I document the results of the readings that I obtain?
7) What do the results that I receive from the meter mean?
8) When do I need to call the doctor?
There are several resources that can help answer these questions:
- The pharmacist
- A diabetes educator
- The nurse at your doctor’s office
- The company that made the meter. Every meter has an “800” number on the back.
Using a blood sugar meter to test your blood sugar on a consistent basis can give you piece of mind. The more that you know about your diabetes and what can change your blood sugar levels, the better you can take care of yourself and those around you.
Jane A. O’Friel is a nurse and certified diabetes educator who is the Diabetes Education Coordinator at the Backus Diabetes Management Center in Norwich. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. O’Friel and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at healthydocs.blogspot.com.
But knowing what your blood sugar level is also is important. In order to keep track of these levels, it is important to monitor your blood sugar using a blood glucose meter.
Learning to use this important tool will help you know the influence of foods, medications and activity on your diabetes. You will also be able to notice any patterns in your blood sugar levels and when you may need to call the doctor for a change in your treatment plan.
Before taking a prescription for a blood sugar meter to the pharmacy, give your insurance company a call and find out if there is a particular brand that will make it more cost efficient for to test on a consistent basis. Some insurance companies have a relationship with a particular medical supplier that will actually make it much cheaper and easier to obtain diabetes supplies.
Once you have your blood sugar equipment in hand, learn how to use the equipment in the proper way. Here are the questions to consider:
1) How do I operate the meter, including calibration, if necessary?
2) How do I obtain an adequate blood sample?
3) What are all of the supplies used for that I have obtained with the meter?
4) How do I care and store the device and the supplies?
5) How do I properly dispose of the lancets?
6) Where do I document the results of the readings that I obtain?
7) What do the results that I receive from the meter mean?
8) When do I need to call the doctor?
There are several resources that can help answer these questions:
- The pharmacist
- A diabetes educator
- The nurse at your doctor’s office
- The company that made the meter. Every meter has an “800” number on the back.
Using a blood sugar meter to test your blood sugar on a consistent basis can give you piece of mind. The more that you know about your diabetes and what can change your blood sugar levels, the better you can take care of yourself and those around you.
Jane A. O’Friel is a nurse and certified diabetes educator who is the Diabetes Education Coordinator at the Backus Diabetes Management Center in Norwich. This advice should not replace the advice from your physician. Email Ms. O’Friel and all the Healthy Living columnists at healthyliving@wwbh.org or comment on their blog at healthydocs.blogspot.com.
# posted by ----------------- @ 2:47 PM 
