Keeping your blood glucose (sugar) in your target range
can prevent or delay the health problems caused by
diabetes. Most of the steps needed to take care of
diabetes are things you do yourself.
• Use a meal plan.
• Be physically active.
• Take your medicines.
• Try to reach your blood glucose targets most of the
time.
• Keep track of your blood glucose numbers using the
results from your daily blood glucose testing and your
A1C check.
What makes my blood glucose levels
rise or fall?
Blood glucose levels rise and fall throughout the day.
One key to taking care of your diabetes is understanding
why it rises and falls. If you know the reasons, you can
take steps to help keep your blood glucose on target.
What can make blood glucose rise?
• a meal or snack with more food or more carbohydrates
(carbs) than usual
• physical inactivity
• not enough diabetes medicine
• side effects of other medicines
• infection or other illness
• changes in hormone levels, such as during menstrual
periods
• stress
What can make blood glucose fall?
• missing a meal or snack, or having a meal or snack
with less food or fewer carbs than planned
• alcoholic drinks, especially on an empty stomach
• more activity than planned
• too much diabetes medicine
• side effects of other medicine
team about when and how often to check your blood glucose. They can give you a record book where you can write down your blood glucose numbers. You can learn how to use your numbers to make choices about food, physical activity, and medicines. Your results tell you how well your diabetes care plan is working. You’ll be able to look at your record book and see patterns—look for similar results over and over. Looking at these patterns can help you and your health care team fine-tune your diabetes care plan in order to reach your targets. Getting an A1C check The A1C tells you your average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Your results will be reported in two ways: • A1C as a percentage • estimated Average Glucose (eAG), in the same kind of numbers as your day-to-day blood glucose readings Ask your health care team for this test at least twice a year. If your average blood glucose is too high, you may need a change in your diabetes care plan. What does my A1C number mean? Find your A1C number on the left. Then, look at the number on the right under eAG to see your estimated Average Glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. American Diabetes Association 1–800–DIABETES (342–2383) www.diabetes.org ©2009 by the American Diabetes Association, Inc. 1/15 Toolkit No. 15: AllAbout Blood Glucose continued What if my blood glucose is often too high? See your health care provider soon if your blood glucose numbers are often higher than your goals. Talk with your health care team about changes in your meal plan, your physical activity, or your diabetes medicines. What if my blood glucose is too low? Low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when your blood glucose level drops below 70 mg/dl. Low blood glucose can make you feel hungry, shaky, nervous, sweaty, light-headed, sleepy, anxious, or confused. If you think your blood glucose is too low, use your meter to check it. If the result is below 70 mg/dl, follow these guidelines to bring it back up to a safer range. Have one of the carb choices in this list (which each have about 15 grams carbohydrate) right away to raise your blood glucose: • 3 or 4 glucose tablets • ½ cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice • ½ cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink • 8 ounces of milk • 5 to 7 pieces of hard candy • 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again. If it’s still below 70 mg/dl, eat another carb choice. Repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70 mg/dl. What should I do about frequent low blood glucose? If your blood glucose is often low, you may need a change in your meal plan, physical activity, or diabetes medicines. Keep track of when you’ve had low blood glucose events. Note possible causes, such as unplanned physical activity. Then talk it over with your health care team. Association’s Targets My Last Result My Goa
team about when and how often to check your blood glucose. They can give you a record book where you can write down your blood glucose numbers. You can learn how to use your numbers to make choices about food, physical activity, and medicines. Your results tell you how well your diabetes care plan is working. You’ll be able to look at your record book and see patterns—look for similar results over and over. Looking at these patterns can help you and your health care team fine-tune your diabetes care plan in order to reach your targets. Getting an A1C check The A1C tells you your average blood glucose level over the past 2 to 3 months. Your results will be reported in two ways: • A1C as a percentage • estimated Average Glucose (eAG), in the same kind of numbers as your day-to-day blood glucose readings Ask your health care team for this test at least twice a year. If your average blood glucose is too high, you may need a change in your diabetes care plan. What does my A1C number mean? Find your A1C number on the left. Then, look at the number on the right under eAG to see your estimated Average Glucose for the past 2 to 3 months. American Diabetes Association 1–800–DIABETES (342–2383) www.diabetes.org ©2009 by the American Diabetes Association, Inc. 1/15 Toolkit No. 15: AllAbout Blood Glucose continued What if my blood glucose is often too high? See your health care provider soon if your blood glucose numbers are often higher than your goals. Talk with your health care team about changes in your meal plan, your physical activity, or your diabetes medicines. What if my blood glucose is too low? Low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia, occurs when your blood glucose level drops below 70 mg/dl. Low blood glucose can make you feel hungry, shaky, nervous, sweaty, light-headed, sleepy, anxious, or confused. If you think your blood glucose is too low, use your meter to check it. If the result is below 70 mg/dl, follow these guidelines to bring it back up to a safer range. Have one of the carb choices in this list (which each have about 15 grams carbohydrate) right away to raise your blood glucose: • 3 or 4 glucose tablets • ½ cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice • ½ cup (4 ounces) of a regular (not diet) soft drink • 8 ounces of milk • 5 to 7 pieces of hard candy • 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey After 15 minutes, check your blood glucose again. If it’s still below 70 mg/dl, eat another carb choice. Repeat these steps until your blood glucose is at least 70 mg/dl. What should I do about frequent low blood glucose? If your blood glucose is often low, you may need a change in your meal plan, physical activity, or diabetes medicines. Keep track of when you’ve had low blood glucose events. Note possible causes, such as unplanned physical activity. Then talk it over with your health care team. Association’s Targets My Last Result My Goa
No comments:
Post a Comment