Choices that We Make

The Why?

When you have diabetes, blood sugar testing is the most important thing you can do to feel your best and prevent long-term complications.  Consider it an opportunity to take charge of your health.

Monitoring your blood sugar, also called glucose, level will help you take better care of your diabetes.

Checking your blood sugar will help you learn how food, activity levels, stress, medicine and insulin affect your blood sugar level.   This information will help you stay healthy and prevent or delay diabetic complications such as blindness and kidney failure.

The How?

You will need a glucose meter, alcohol pads, sterile finger lancets and sterile test strips.  Check with your health insurance plan to see if they will pay for these supplies.

To test your blood sugar, follow the instructions that come with your glucose meter.  Here’s the basis:

1. Always wash your hands with soap and warm water, then dry them well.  That’s the first step.
2. Remove a test strip from the container and replace the cap immediately to prevent damage to the strips.
3. Insert the test strip into your meter.
4. Place the tip of the special needle (lancet) on your finger or whatever part of body you will use to test.  If you are using your finger, always stick the side of your finger, not the tip, so that you won’t have sore spots on the part of your finger you use the most.
5. When you have a drop of blood, carefully touch the test strip to the blood (avoid touching your skin with the test strip) and wait for a reading.
6. Within a few seconds, the meter will display your blood glucose level on a screen.

Your fingertips contain a lot of nerve endings, so make sure to rotate the sites where you stick your fingers.  If you have a newer glucose meter, you’ll have the option to test your blood glucose from other sites, such as your forearm or thigh.  But check with your doctor or diabetes educator first to find out if alternative site testing is appropriate in your case.

Your Glucose Level is so important

Let’s watch how they do it.

7 Ways To Lower Your Blood Sugar Levels

If your blood sugar level is too high,  it i’s absolutely vital for your health that you lower your level right away.  High blood sugar levels increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes and vision and nerve problems.

Learn how to take care of your body so you’ll enjoy good health.

Tip #1

Add exercise to your daily routine. Exercise will lower your blood sugar levels. Make time in your schedule for a regular exercise routine, even if it is just walking. Even walking on the spot to some music is a great start. Some say to start by walking downhill if you are too heavy or weak as a start, but personally I’ve always wondered how you get home is this is your strategy. The important thing is to start a regular exercise program so you can benefit by reducing your blood sugar level.

Tip #2

Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water. Dr. Michael O’Brien, well known author, suggests that when we sit down to a meal and we look at our plates; if 60% raw food or barely processed food, this is the best thing we could do to control sugar level. So I’ve stopped over-cooking my vegetables and eat mostly meals made from scratch. Plus – the meals taste awesome.

Tip #3

Don’t eat a big meal. In fact, the best idea is to spread your meals throughout the day. It is better to eat five small meals then three big ones.

Tip #4

Some believe that adding cinnamon to your diet each day helps lower your blood sugar level. Give is a try. Even if you don’t like cinnamon, like myself. I figure it can’t hurt.

Tip #5

Here’s a big one for me … take your medications, if you are on any, at the same time each day. It’s so easy with our hectic schedules, taking those little pills sometimes get forgotten, sometimes for hours. This is not a great way to control blood sugars … so try to get on a daily schedule for taking your medications.

Tip #6

Avoid soft drinks and foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates. I know this is a really tough one for “soda addicts” or “foodaholics”. Unfortunately, if we want to control our sugar levels, we need to control what we put in our mouths.

Tip #7

Feeling under the weather? Have the sniffles? Be aware that over-the-counter medications can have adverse effects on your blood sugar levels. Build a good relationship with your pharmacist and always talk to them before taking any of the over the counter meds that are available to us.