One of the most important things that diabetics can do to maintain a normal blood sugar level. The use of diabetes test strips enables diabetics to receive the information they need to maintain healthy glucose levels. Serious medical complications are possible if blood sugar is not adequately controlled. Diabetes can affect many organs, including the heart, kidneys, nerves, and eyes.
People who have diabetes need to measure their blood glucose levels multiple times each day. At the very least, a blood sugar reading should be taken both before going to bed and first thing in the morning. Many diabetics also check them before they eat, as well as two hours after. Ideally, your blood glucose in the morning will be below 100. Most researchers agree that significant damage occurs when blood sugar is above 140. More recent research indicates that lower levels result in damage, and that blod glucose should be kept below 120.
Using test strips for diabetes both before and after eating will help you plan your diet to suit your blood sugar reactions. It also helps you make sure that your treatment is working. Before eating, your numbers should be lower, in the nineties or less. However, if your blood sugar has fallen into the sixties or seventies, your blood sugar is too low. Two hours later, your reading should be under 125. If they are higher than that, you have problem either consumed too many simple carbohydrates or your treatment plan is not working. The same is true for bedtime. Bedtime blood sugar levels higher than 105 mean that you should talk to your doctor about an adjustment to your treatment. You should especially consider visiting your doctor if your reading is higher than 140.
If your diabetes test strips have a low reading, you need to eat something. The brain uses glucose as its primary energy source, so glucose is necessary for proper brain function. When your blood sugar gets too low, you could become disoriented or even comatose.
Using diabetes testing strips allows you to test your blood sugar levels. If you are diabetic, you need to test your blood sugar regularly in order to stay healthy. When diabetes is not properly controlled, it can result in a number of different serious complications, such as blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, and nerve damage.
