From head to toe, diabetes management requires a fair amount of monitoring and testing.
In addition to the testing performed by healthcare professionals at regularly-scheduled appointments, people with diabetes are encouraged to take ownership of the condition by taking the time to monitor and test themselves.
A great place to start learning more about diabetes self-care is the
2-Week Challenge! You log your food intake and record your blood glucose values over a 2-week period and you’ll start seeing how your blood sugar is affected by eating, physical activity and other factors. Pick up the Shoppers Drug Mart brochure called “Know Your Numbers” to learn more about this helpful tool.
Self-monitoring of blood glucose (“SMBG”) is considered a priority for people using insulin, who should be testing blood sugar at least three times per day.
Monitoring blood sugar is important because it allows you to see how your body responds to various things, such as the type and amount of food you eat, stress, travel, vigorous exercise, or periods of illness.
There are many different blood glucose monitors available on the market, each of which has different features and capabilities. Consider:
- The cost of the monitor and of testing strips
- The size of the monitor’s buttons and text font
- Whether it requires coding
- The type of lancing device (the prick to obtain a blood sample)
- The amount of blood required for a sample
- The amount of memory and number of readings stored
- Whether the monitor can be hooked to computer software for tracking results
- The time it takes to provide a sample
- The battery lifespan
It is ideal to have a healthcare professional such as a pharmacist, pharmacy technician or a Certified Diabetes Educator walk you through a meter training session so that you are comfortable using the blood glucose meter to ensure accurate results. There are many promising technical developments in the area of diabetes self-management that promise to make blood sugar monitoring easier in the near-future.
Ketone testing is something else to keep in mind, particularly during sick days and/or if you have type 1 diabetes and you use a continuous insulin infusion kit, or if you have elevated blood sugar levels. While there are blood glucose monitors with the ability to test for ketones, most people will use urine tests for ketones. These test strips are available from several manufacturers.
Insulin administration is done through the use of a pen, an injection, or through a pump that distributes insulin continuously. Each method has its strengths and limitations and you should work out your preference in consultation with your healthcare provider. Some people prefer the convenience of a continuous insulin pump, while others are comfortable injecting themselves.
Insulin pumps are costly and can be a challenge to use, particularly with young children. Modern insulin pens offer small-calibre needles which reduce pain and they do not require refrigeration.
There are many other tools on the market that can help your self-care routine, such as handy freezer packs in which to store insulin or carrying cases for travelling with supplies. Ask your Shoppers Drug Mart Pharmacist for help selecting products that will help meet your specific needs.
Sources:
Alberta Diabetes Institute. www.adi.med.ualberta.ca/Home/Resources
Banting and Best Diabetes Centre. www.bbdc.org
Canadian Diabetes Association. www.diabetes.ca
Canadian Institutes for Health Research. www.cihr-irsc.gc.caDietitians of Canada. www.dietitians.ca
Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index_e.html
Health Canada. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/diabete/index_e.html
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. www.heartandstroke.com
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada. www.jdrf.ca
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
