Self-testing will give you the opportunity to check your blood glucose levels yourself.
You will be able to see if your blood glucose is either too high or too low. You can use self-testing to help you discover the effects of different activities on your blood glucose levels, such as eating various foods, drinking alcohol or taking exercise. You will then be able to adjust your lifestyle accordingly to help sustain healthy blood glucose levels. This should allow you to have more control over your diabetes.
Your blood glucose meter is one of the best tools you have to learn about how your lifestyle affects your diabetes. You will be able to see what happens when you over-eat and your blood glucose level rises. Equally, you should see it improve if you lose excess weight or follow a healthy exercise regime. If you are taking insulin, self-testing your blood glucose level will be useful for confirming any symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia). The result will help you to manage the right insulin dose.
Advantages to self-testing:
- Your monitor is one of your main tools to help you control your diabetes.
- It is an effective, convenient method for measuring blood glucose, whether you are at home or on the move.
- It will help you learn about your diabetes and how to identify the symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia)
- It helps you to see how different foods and physical activities affect your blood glucose, so you can make informed lifestyle changes.
- It will help you work out the right insulin dose.
- It should improve your blood glucose control.
- It is the only way to find out if you have night time hypoglycaemia.
- Your diabetes healthcare team will find the results useful when tailoring your treatment to fit your needs.