BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING

Center For Diabetes Education

at Tulsa Regional Medical Center

Target Blood Sugar Ranges

• Fasting: 90-130 mg/dl

• Before meals: 90-130 mg/dl

• Two hours after meals: Less than 180 mg/dl

• Bed time: Less than 150 mg/dl

Target RangesKeeping your blood sugar in range will lower

your risk of complications

• Blindness

• Heart disease

• Kidney problems

• Sexual dysfunction

• Nerve damage

Prevention of Complications

• Glucose control

• Blood pressure control

• Blood lipid control

• Preventive care practices for eyes, kidneys and feet

• Smoking cessation

Why Check Your Blood Sugar?

Checking your blood sugar every day can help

you learn

• how well your medication is working

• how different foods affect your blood sugar

• how exercise affects you blood sugar

• why you are having highs and lows

Frequency and Timing of Monitoring

Pills • 1 or 2 times a day

• Variety of timesFasting

Before meals

2 hours after meals

Bedtime

Frequency and Timing of Monitoring

Insulin• 3 or more times a day

• Fasting

• Before meals

• 2 hours after meals

• Bedtime

Remember…..

Check blood sugar

when you suspect a low!

Hypoglycemia

• Blood sugar less than 70• Symptoms include

– shaking

– sweating

– nervousness

– feeling irritable

– blurry vision or headache

– feeling tired

– no symptoms

Treatment of Hypoglycemia

• Have one portion of fast-acting sugar– 4 oz fruit juice

– 3 glucose tablets or 1 tube glucose gel

– 1 tablespoon honey or sugar

• Wait 15 minutes. Recheck blood sugar.

• If blood sugar is still less than 70 repeat.

• If blood sugar is above 70 eat a snack or meal within 1 hour.

What Makes Blood Sugars Go Up?

• Food

• Not enough diabetes pills/insulin

• Certain medicines

• Infection/sickness

• Surgery

• Stress

• Menstrual period

What Makes Blood Sugars Go Down?

• Diabetes pills

• Insulin

• Exercise

What Can You Do to Control Your Blood Sugar?

• Check your blood sugar regularly and write the numbers down!

• Walk every day for at least 30 minutes.

• Eat smaller portions of everything, except vegetables! (Not potatoes, corn, peas, beans). Eat at least 3 meals per day.

• Show your logbook to your doctor and discuss any patterns or problems.