Each week I work in an outpatient clinic teaching people about diabetes. I am often amazed how many people do not check their blood sugar. I understand their reasons. Checking their blood sugar is painful, time consuming and for many people expensive. However, there are three important reasons why they need to check their blood sugar:

1. It helps improve blood sugar control.

Studies show people who successfully maintain their weight usually accomplish long term weight loss by weighing themselves regularly. These people weigh themselves at least weekly and make changes before they gain significant weight. The same principle applies for people with diabetes. People who check their blood sugar frequently usually meet their Hemoglobin A1C goals. The A1C lab averages their blood glucose for the past three months. People with diabetes should check their sugar at least daily or more often if they are injecting insulin.

2. They can find out if something is wrong with their bodies.

At the nursing homes I work at, part of my job is finding out why someone unexpectedly loses weight. Dehydration and infections are common in nursing homes. The simplest method to find out if individuals with diabetes are sick is to check their blood sugar. Most doctors and diabetes educators recommend checking your blood sugar every four hours when you are ill.

3. They can find out if their blood glucose medication is working.

Diabetes is a changing disease. What you do today to control your blood glucose may not work in twenty years, especially if you controlling your blood sugar through diet and taking oral hypoglycemic agents (pills). If you check your blood sugar regularly, you can find out if your regiment is working and make any necessary changes. In addition, if you are taking insulin, you can take steps to ensure your blood sugar does not get too low (hypoglycemia). Many people can have low blood sugar without any signs or symptoms and go into a coma. Checking your blood sugar frequently can reduce your chance of this event happening.

I hope this blog convinced you to start checking your blood sugar regularly. Email me at askard@stablebloodsugar.com if you have any questions. Allison