1. Can I test myself at home for blood glucose levels?
If you are not diabetic or pre-diabetic, there is usually no reason to test glucose levels at home. Screening done as part of your regular physical should be sufficient.
If you have been diagnosed with
diabetes, however, your doctor or diabetes educator will recommend a home glucose monitor (glucometer, or one of the newer methods that uses very tiny amounts of blood or tests the interstitial fluid -- the fluid between your cells -- for glucose). You will be given guidelines for how high or low your blood sugar should be at different times of the day. By checking your glucose regularly, you can see if the diet and medication schedule you are following is working properly for you.
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2. Can I test my urine glucose instead of my blood?
Not in most cases. Glucose will usually only show up in the urine if it is at sufficiently high levels in the blood so that the body is "dumping" the excess into the urine, or if there is some degree of kidney damage and the glucose is leaking out into the urine. Urine glucose, however, is sometimes used as a rough indicator of high glucose levels and the urine indicator strip (dipstick) that measures the glucose is occasionally useful for tracking the presence of protein and
ketones in the urine.
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3. What are the usual treatments for diabetes?
For type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type of
diabetes, losing excess weight, eating a healthy diet that is high in fiber and restricted in carbohydrates, and getting regular amounts of exercise may be enough to lower your blood glucose levels. In many cases, however, oral medications that increase the body's secretion of and sensitivity to insulin are necessary to achieve the desired glucose level. With type 1 diabetes (and with type 2 diabetes that does not respond well enough to oral medications), insulin injections several times a day are necessary.
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4. How can a diabetic educator help me?
If you are diabetic, a diabetic educator (often a nurse with specialized training) can make sure that you know how to:
- Recognize and know how to treat both high and low blood sugar.
- Test and record your self-check glucose values.
- Adjust your medications.
- Administer insulin (which types in which combinations to meet your needs).
- Handle medications when you get ill.
- Monitor your feet, skin, and eyes to catch problems early.
- Buy diabetic supplies and store them properly.
- Plan meals. Diet is extremely important in minimizing swings in blood glucose levels. A registered dietician can help you learn how to plan meals and a diabetic educator can help with this as well.
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