There are two forms of diabetes – type 1 (absolute insulin deficiency) and type 2 (relative insulin deficiency and tissue insensitivity to it). Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (who are in the compensation stage and are taking only tablet drugs) should measure blood sugar at least once a day, and once a week study their glycemic profile (take blood glucose tests several times a day). In case of deterioration and addition of other diseases, complications, the frequency of measurements may be increased. When treating type 2 diabetes with insulin, recommendations for blood glucose control are similar to those for type 1 diabetes.
In type 1 diabetes mellitus (all such patients are treated only with insulin), and with a compensated course, it is necessary to measure blood sugar at least 4 times a day. Otherwise, it is impossible to correctly dose insulin. In addition, administering insulin without prior glucose measurement is fraught with complications, primarily hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a decrease in blood sugar level (up to coma), characterized by rapid development of symptoms, complications, and requires assistance from other people. When the condition of a patient with type 1 diabetes deteriorates, the frequency of glucose measurement may also increase.
In type 2 diabetes, there may sometimes be no clearly expressed clinical manifestations associated with high blood sugar. Such well-known signs of diabetes as thirst, dryness, skin itching, increased urine output may not appear as typically as they do at the onset of type 1 diabetes. But when testing blood on an empty stomach, a glucose level above 6.1 mmol/L (in plasma analysis) and 5.6 mmol/L (in capillary blood analysis) is detected. The increase in blood sugar, in some cases, can be significant. Since neither the patient nor the doctor knows about these changes, the diagnosis of 'diabetes mellitus' is not made, and the patient does not receive special treatment, which includes insulin and sugar-lowering tablets. This situation may continue until the patient accidentally, in connection with another disease, has their blood glucose level measured. Or, when they develop complaints indicating the presence of late complications of diabetes, and this fact forces the patient to seek medical help. All this can be avoided if blood sugar is measured in a timely manner.
Therefore, even if you do not have diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, measure your blood sugar level at least twice a year. It is especially relevant to do these measurements for people over 45-50 years of age who are obese, have other metabolic diseases, and also have a family history of diabetes.
For measuring and monitoring glycemia (blood glucose content), laboratory methods and devices called glucometers are used. Every patient with diabetes should be able to use them. In the ORTOS online store you can purchase not only glucometers, but also buy Accu-Chek Active test strips necessary for measuring blood sugar.
Only constant monitoring (self-monitoring) of glycemia will allow the patient to live fully with diabetes, avoid complications, increase life expectancy and improve its quality.