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Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers
Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers -- Posted by Gumbo on 11-09-04 17:56
Know Your Blood Sugar Numbers
2 Tests to Measure Blood Sugar Control
WebMD Public Information from the National Institutes of Health
To control your diabetes, you must know your blood sugar numbers. Testing
your blood sugar is the only way to know whether your blood sugar is too
high, too low, or just right.
Two different tests to measure your blood sugar:
1. The hemoglobin A1c test (pronounced he-me-glo-bin
A-one-C) measures your blood sugar control over the last 3
months. It is the best way to know if your blood sugar is under
control.
2. A finger-stick test you do yourself using a blood glucose meter
measures your blood sugar at the time you test.
You need both tests to get a complete picture of your blood sugar control.
The Hemoglobin A1c Test: The Best Test for Blood Sugar Control
The hemoglobin A1c test is a simple lab test that shows the average amount
of sugar that has been in your blood over the last 3 months. Your health
care provider does the test by taking a small sample of your blood and
sending it to a lab. The hemoglobin A1c test shows if your blood sugar is
close to normal or too high. It is the best test for your health care
provider to tell if your blood sugar is under control.
The Finger-Stick Test: Testing Your Own Blood Sugar Using a Blood Glucose
Meter
A finger-stick test is a simple test you can do using a blood glucose meter
to check changes in your own blood sugar. The finger-stick test tells you
what your blood sugar is at the time you test.
Finger-stick testing using a blood glucose meter helps you see how food,
physical activity, and diabetes medicine affect your blood sugar. The
readings you get from these tests can help you manage your diabetes day by
day or even hour by hour. Keep a record of your test results and review it
with your health care provider.
Finger-Stick Testing Blood Sugar Goal
Ideal goals for most people with diabetes when finger-stick testing using a
blood glucose meter are:
a.. Before Meals 80-120 mg/dl
b.. At Bedtime 100-140 mg/dl
Your blood sugar goals may be different from these ideal goals. Ask your
health care provider what goals are best for you.
SOURCE: NIDDK: "The Benefits of Controlling Diabetes for Life," May 2002.
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