Those of you who have diabetes should be vigilant in testing your blood sugar levels regularly, at home and in the clinics. No, this has nothing to do with the blood sugar level testing that you can do for free in a store that sells the blood testing kits, this has everything to do with having your own home blood level testing kit and making full use of the blood sugar level charts which your doctor or health professional should have taught you how to use.
The regular testing will help you reduce your risks of developing any form of complications from diabetes. According to the studies made in the United States and the United Kingdom, the maintenance of normal blood sugar levels poses a significant reduction of the risks of complications from diabetes Type I and II.
Factors that Affect Results of Testing and Blood Sugar Charts
If you are already knowledgeable on how to test your own blood, then you should also be aware that there are certain conditions which could affect the results:
- Gout
- Humidity
- Altitude
- High air temperature
- Anaemia
If you are consistently getting weird or abnormal results, go to the doctor and find out if there is any truth to the results. If not, then recalibrate your meter and check if your blood glucose strips are still viable. It may be just that the strips have reached its expiration date or humidity caused the strips to be damaged. Going to the doctor first is a precaution which you should take as there is always a chance that there was nothing wrong with the meter.
The Chart Itself
The chart illustrated below will give you a general idea on what your blood sugar levels should be. However, this may not be your own unique levels and that is the importance in seeing the doctor. There are really individuals whose normal results differ from those on this generic chart:
Time of Test Ideal Results
Before Meals 70-130mg/dL
After Meals Less than 180 mg/dL
Normal Levels for HbA1c
The HbA1c or Haemoglobin A1c test determines if your diabetes is being controlled properly by your maintenance medications. The normal values below should inform you and your doctor if the medications are effective. If they are not, then there would be a need to make some changes.
|
Average Blood Glucose Level (mg/dL) |
HbA1c (%) |
|
124mg/ dL |
6.3 |
|
147mg/ dL |
7 |
|
180mg/ dL |
8 |
|
214mg/ dL |
9 |
|
247mg/ dL |
10 |
|
280mg/ dL |
11 |
Keeping the Daily Chart
Take down all the results of your tests in the chart, include all factors which may affect them like the quantity, quality and kind of food that you had ingested. The chart will give the doctor an idea how your food intake can affect your sugar level. This way, in case of any emergencies, the attending physician would have all the facts on hand to be able to assess your condition as it should be and not to rely on guesswork.
